Lot 241
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, West Mexico, Jalisco, Ameca Grey Type, Late Formative to Early Classic Period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A compelling ceramic portrait of contemplative stillness, this seated male figure hails from the shaft tomb tradition of Jalisco in West Mexico. Molded from buff-hued clay and finished in a smooth grey slip, the figure sits cross-legged, arms folded gently atop his knees in a gesture of rest or introspection. He is nude, with an erect phallus projecting between his legs - a potent symbol of vitality, fertility, or ancestral power. His broad back and deeply bent limbs convey physical weight and human presence, while the exaggerated features of the face - wide almond eyes, parted lips revealing teeth, and prominent nose - add an expressive liveliness that seems to hum with breath. His hands and feet are meticulously rendered, with individually shaped fingers and toes and clearly delineated nail beds. Size: 7.5" L x 7.1" W x 14" H (19 cm x 18 cm x 35.6 cm)
A headband adorned with raised rosettes or knotted forms encircles his smooth crown, and his ears are decorated with layered hoop ornaments that flare outward in a bold yet balanced silhouette. His upright posture and quiet gaze suggest not only ritual composure, but also the enduring presence of a figure meant to witness, to remember, or to intercede.
The Ameca Grey tradition is known for its naturalistic yet stylized depictions of the human form, often in quiet poses of reflection, social gathering, or storytelling. These figures were frequently placed in shaft tombs alongside offerings and kin, believed to provide protection, companionship, or continuity between the living and the dead. This example, with its confident form and finely modeled details, captures the quiet humanity of West Mexican ceramic art.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#194807
- Condition: Professionally repaired and restored with repainting over break lines. Nicks and abrasions to surface with chip to finger on proper left hand. Otherwise, excellent presentation with good remains of pigment and impressive detail.
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