Lot 53
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 200 BCE to 300 CE. A robust and expressive pottery figure depicts a semi-nude standing female, her breasts exposed and her form animated by the confident gesture of a jar balanced atop her right shoulder. Modeled in reddish earthenware, the figure stands with legs set apart and knees slightly bent, creating a grounded, assertive stance typical of Colima figural sculpture. She wears a three-quarter length skirt that wraps closely around the hips and thighs, its surface simply defined to emphasize volume rather than textile detail. The upper torso is left bare, with pronounced breasts rendered in a direct and unidealized manner that reflects the Colima tradition of frank corporeal representation. Size: 4.5" L x 9.1" W x 14.3" H (11.4 cm x 23.1 cm x 36.3 cm)
The arms are asymmetrically posed, with the right arm raised to support a rounded vessel resting against the shoulder, while the left arm bends outward from the body, enhancing the sense of movement and balance. The head is crowned by a tall, flaring headdress or cap, a characteristic feature of Colima figures that elongates the silhouette and adds visual authority. Facial features are stylized yet engaging, with almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and a faintly smiling mouth that lends the figure a calm, self-possessed presence.
Figures of this type are commonly associated with shaft tomb burials, where they served as companions, offerings, or symbolic representations of daily life, fertility, and sustenance in the afterlife. The exposed torso and vessel may relate to themes of abundance, nourishment, or ritual labor, though such interpretations remain speculative. With its bold proportions, confident posture, and clear emphasis on the human form, this figure exemplifies the sculptural strength and immediacy that define Colima pottery, preserving a tangible sense of life, labor, and belief shaped in clay.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-major gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, primarily acquired between 1985 and 2005
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#199913
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration over break lines; all done expertly and very difficult to notice. Some light surface wear, but, otherwise, excellent presentation with rich mineral deposits and heavy earthen encrustations to interior.
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