Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, Chinesco type, Protoclassic Period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A set of two hand-built pottery figures of the Chinesco type exhibiting highly burnished surfaces with red and black pigment painted atop their creamy beige bodies. The first figure sits with conical legs spread wide beneath the broad hips and holds both arms against the black abdominal tattooing. The enlarged head protrudes slightly forward and presents impressed eyes with two pupils, a prominent nose, and a pinched brow. The largest figure stands upon dramatically arched feet, has abstract linear tattooing across the chest and back, and has red circles painted across the cheeks. Both figures don red-painted collars perhaps indicative of high-caste individuals. Size of largest (standing): 3.5" W x 7.6" H (8.9 cm x 19.3 cm)
This style of sculpture is known as Chinesco by collectors because of its stylistic similarities to Chinese art. Clay figures like this one are the only remains that we have today of a sophisticated and unique culture in West Mexico - they made no above-ground monuments or sculptures, at least that we know of, which is in strong contrast to developments elsewhere in ancient Mesoamerica. Instead, their tombs were their lasting works of art: skeletons arrayed radially with their feet positioned inward, and clay offerings, like this one, placed alongside the walls facing inward, near the skulls.
Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection; ex-Butterfield Auction, San Francisco, 1995
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#160992
Condition
Seated figure has repair to right leg near top of thigh with resurfacing and light overpainting along break lines; standing figure has chipping and small losses to both feet as shown. Both figures have abrasions and fading to original pigment, with light encrustations within some recessed areas. Nice preservation to most areas of original pigment.