Lot 8B
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. An expressive embodiment of ancient West Mexican artistry, this Nayarit standing male figure is crafted from terracotta and vividly enhanced by red slip accented with beige details. The figure confidently displays his nude physique, prominently featuring a pronounced phallus - likely symbolizing fertility, virility, and ancestral lineage. His posture conveys quiet dignity, with his right arm relaxed at his side, while his left arm is gracefully bent to support a small ceremonial vessel upon his shoulder. His elongated neck is adorned with meticulously rendered beaded necklaces, each bead highlighted by subtle beige slip against the rich red surface, signifying elevated social status or ceremonial prominence. Size: 4.5" L x 10.5" W x 19" H (11.4 cm x 26.7 cm x 48.3 cm)
The facial modeling exhibits exceptional detail, characterized by slit-form eyes with carefully delineated pupils beneath heavy lids, paired with a slightly open mouth revealing delicately suggested teeth, lending the figure a lifelike and contemplative expression. Completing his ceremonial attire are a carefully modeled headdress, layered earrings, and a distinguished septum ring, underscoring his probable role as an individual of importance within Nayarit society. Both visually compelling and culturally significant, this figure encapsulates the refined craftsmanship and profound symbolism of Nayarit pottery traditions, offering collectors an exceptional artifact of aesthetic beauty and historical depth.
Figures like this one were traditionally placed in shaft tombs across the Nayarit region, likely serving as guardians, companions, or ancestral intermediaries. The blend of symmetry, exaggeration, and surface refinement gives this figure both sculptural strength and ceremonial gravitas - a visual language shaped by belief, memory, and clay.
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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#195523
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over break lines. A few break lines or stable fissures visible on underside of feet, but otherwise repair is done expertly and very hard to notice. Nice presentation with good remaiing pigments and scattered mineral deposits to surface.
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