Lot 21
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A compelling hollow pottery figure of a nude seated woman from ancient Jalisco, her arms lifted in a gesture evocative of astonishment or divine invocation - a pose often likened to a "halt!" motion. Modeled with a distinctive sense of volume and presence, her body is rendered with rounded proportions and prominent pointed breasts, emphasizing fertility and vitality. Her only adornments are tassel earrings, a headband, and armbands, each carefully incised and modeled to convey status and ceremonial identity. Her long, angular face, marked by a prominent nose and open mouth, gives her an expressive countenance characteristic of Jalisco figural art. A wide flaring headdress or coiffure crowns the elongated neck, and traces of red and cream pigment suggest her original polychromy. Size: 3.7" L x 6.1" W x 8.6" H (9.4 cm x 15.5 cm x 21.8 cm)
The sculptor's stylized abstraction of form, particularly in the simplified limbs and animated posture, captures both physical and spiritual energy - qualities central to the West Mexican shaft tomb tradition. Figures such as this were often placed within tombs to accompany the deceased, serving as guardians or symbolic representations of ancestors, fertility spirits, or community members. This example embodies the distinct aesthetics of the Jalisco region, where artistry and ritual belief merged to give form to enduring expressions of human emotion and transcendence.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-Los Angeles Modern Auction, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-private California, USA collection
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#197635
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over break lines; all done very well and difficult to notice. Some nicks, chips, and abrasions commensurate with age, but, otherwise, nice presentation with liberal remaining pigments and good detail.
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