Lot 104A
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A monumental and commanding Nayarit pottery figure of sizable form, embodying rank, ritual, and the human body as a canvas of identity. Hollow-formed in a warm reddish-brown clay, the standing nude female presents a grounded, frontal stance, her thick legs firmly planted and her broad torso projecting strength and presence. Her arms extend slightly forward in a poised, almost declarative gesture, while the tall, cylindrical head frames a striking face with pronounced nose, parted lips revealing teeth, and deeply set eyes that lend an intense, almost confrontational expression. Most distinctive are the shoulders, densely stippled with raised nodules that likely represent ceremonial scarification - a visual language of status and endurance in West Mexican cultures. Such markings are widely interpreted as indicators of elevated rank, ritual achievement, or initiation, transforming the body into a living record of identity and prestige. Size: 11.1" W x 18.3" H (28.2 cm x 46.5 cm)
The figure's abbreviated hands and feet, along with its compact proportions - broad torso, short limbs, and simplified anatomy - align closely with the hieratic conventions characteristic of Nayarit sculpture.
The surface bears mineral encrustation and areas of wear consistent with long burial, suggesting its original placement within a shaft tomb context, where figures of this scale served as companions or guardians for the deceased. Works of this size are comparatively less common and would have formed part of a more elaborate funerary assemblage, underscoring both the importance of the individual interred and the enduring cultural emphasis on social presence beyond death. Sculptural, imposing, and deeply human, this figure stands as a powerful testament to the artistic and cultural sophistication of ancient Nayarit society.
Recommended for domestic shipping only due to repairs.
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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#199665
- Condition: Repaired and restored with chipping and losses along some visible break lines and restoration over others. Chips, nicks, and abrasions as shown. Good remaining detail and scattered manganese deposits to surface. Recommended for domestic shipping only due to repairs.
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