Lot 29
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A remarkable cream-slipped ceramic sculpture depicting a warrior and his captive, united in a tense tableau of dominance and submission. The warrior stands assertively beside his kneeling prisoner, his left hand gripping the captive's head in a commanding gesture while his right arm raises a knife poised for ritual or symbolic action. Both figures are rendered in the stylized, rounded forms typical of the Jalisco shaft tomb tradition, their compact bodies and large, expressive heads conveying a sense of humanity that transcends time. The captive crouches on all fours, his wide eyes and parted lips imparting a sense of resignation or supplication. The warrior's forward stance and exaggerated gesture amplify the psychological tension of the scene, evoking themes of warfare, power, and sacrifice central to West Mexican cosmology. Cream slip traces and subtle remnants of pigment hint at the sculpture's original vibrancy, once enhanced by painted detail. Size: 8.3" L x 8.1" W x 8.3" H (21.1 cm x 20.6 cm x 21.1 cm)
Such conjoined figural compositions are characteristic of the Jalisco ceramic style, often discovered within shaft tombs where they served as offerings intended to accompany the dead into the afterlife. This example, with its dynamic interaction between figures, reflects both narrative vitality and spiritual significance - an enduring testament to the artistry and ritual life of ancient Western Mexico.
PROVENANCE: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-Los Angeles Modern Auction, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-private California, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA, July 16, 2018, lot 82; ex-private Nevada, USA collection; ex-Harmer Rooke Galleries, New York, New York, USA, acquired in the late 1980s
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Item #
197634
- Condition: Excellent. Missing knife tip. Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over most break lines, though some are still slightly visible in areas. Restoration to the warrior's arms and front of both feet. Otherwise, excellent presentation with nice detail and scattered mineral deposits.
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