Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz culture, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A haunting ceramic sculpture of a skull with large, bulging eyes painted black, a gaping nasal hole, and a leering grin with delineated teeth. The sockets of the eyes project outward, and the eyes themselves dominate the form. Trophy heads were a near-universal constant in Mesoamerican imagery for millennia. Captives and sacrificial victims had their heads removed ritually, and these were displayed publicly on specially-built racks that a later culture, the Aztecs, called tzompantli. In addition to having real racks of skulls, documented extensively by Spanish chroniclers, Mesoamericans created artwork of disembodied heads that symbolize trophy heads. Size: 2.9" W x 3" H (7.4 cm x 7.6 cm)

Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, USA; ex-private New York, USA collection from the 1960s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#148166

  • Condition: Hairline fracture from one side of the lower jaw to the inside of the opposite eye. Light deposits on surface with nice preservation of motifs.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

August 6, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000