Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Manabi Province, Jamacoaque (Jama Coaque) culture, ca. 500 CE. A hollow-molded female figure who sits with four birds perched upon her arms and her hands placed upon 2 percussive drums. She is highly decorated with an elaborate beaded necklace of turquoise hues and multiple yellow strands, multiple armlets and bracelets adorned by turquoise blue and yellow hues, large ear ornaments incised so as to resemble shells, an enormous yellow nose ring, pointed blue labret flanked by four hemispheric face piercings - as well as a striking headdress and coiffure - the headdress comprised of 3 raised hemispheric sections (with twin pointed lobes of hair emerging from the outer 2) - that are incised with zigzag and ray motifs and present traces of turquoise blue pigment, over a plain yellow cap-like section. Liberal remains of aqua blue, golden yellow, and green pigment adorn the figure and her accoutrements. Size: 8.5" W x 10.3" H (21.6 cm x 26.2 cm)
The artists of the Jamacoaque culture were a sophisticated lot who could create finely modeled sculpture as well as various textiles adorned with imaginative ornamentation, quite evident in the workmanship required to create the elaborate regalia of this seated figure's highly decorated state. The Pre-Columbian worship of sky animals, here referenced by the birds, stemmed from their belief that these winged creates served as messengers between the physical and supernatural realms.
Provenance: private Marysville, California, USA collection, purchased from Artemis Gallery auction, May 23, 2019, lot 124F; ex-Morton Dimondstein collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, ca. 1970 to 1985; ex-John Rich collection, Beverly Hills, California, USA
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#171150
Condition
Repaired from multiple pieces with restoration and overpainting over most break lines except those on the head, face, and neckline. Bird on right hand has been restored. Liberal amounts of original pigment save areas of restoration. Nice manganese deposits.