Lot 47
Jalisco Seated Semi-Nude Female Pottery Figure
Jalisco Seated Semi-Nude Female Pottery Figure
Starting Bid: $400
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Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A distinctive ceramic figure of a seated female presents the bold, hieratic style characteristic of the Jalisco sculptural tradition. The figure sits firmly with legs spread forward and bent, the compact body rising from a broad base that gives the sculpture both stability and visual weight. Short arms extend outward from the shoulders, creating an open, frontal posture that emphasizes the figure's presence and ceremonial character. The figure is modeled semi-nude, wearing a simple skirt while the upper body remains bare. Prominent breasts with clearly defined nipples project from the torso, a feature commonly seen in West Mexican ceramic figures that may relate to themes of fertility, womanhood, or social identity. The waist is marked by a subtle beltline where the skirt begins, and the lower body expands into the seated base. Size: 6.4" L x 8.6" W x 13.6" H (16.3 cm x 21.8 cm x 34.5 cm)
The head is rendered with stylized yet expressive features. Large almond-shaped eyes, a long prominent nose, and a gently smiling mouth create a calm, composed expression. The ears are broad and slightly projecting, and the head is capped by a tall, cylindrical headdress or coiffure that rises above the forehead. Such headwear may represent a wrapped cloth headdress, a hairstyle, or a marker of status within the community.
The proportions of the figure - including the elongated head, short arms, large torso, and simplified legs - reflect established artistic conventions of Jalisco ceramics rather than literal anatomical representation. Sculptors in this region favored a formalized style that communicated identity and social meaning through recognizable visual traits.
Large hollow figures such as this were likely placed within shaft tombs, a distinctive funerary tradition of West Mexico. These tombs often contained groups of ceramic sculptures depicting individuals, attendants, musicians, or animals, creating miniature worlds that accompanied the deceased into the afterlife. The presence of female figures within these assemblages suggests roles tied to lineage, fertility, ritual, or community identity.
The sculpture's warm earthen surface, accented by natural firing clouds and subtle tonal variation, preserves the tactile quality of hand-shaped clay. As both a work of sculptural expression and a remnant of a complex mortuary tradition, the figure offers a vivid glimpse into the artistic and ceremonial life of ancient West Mexico.
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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Item #
201579
- Condition: Fair. Professionally repaired and restored; all done expertly and very difficult to notice. Light surface wear as shown. Otherwise, excellent presentation with impressive detail.
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