Lot 210
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, near Teocaltiche, Zacatecas culture, Protoclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A fabulous pair of hollow-built pottery figures seated on ample thighs and conical posteriors. The figures present nude with vibrant red slip as the ground for further cream and black negative resist linear and geometric motifs which course across the chest, legs, arms, and heads. The female sits upright with arms curved to her hips with exposed breasts decorated with small circular patterns, and the man is seated in a stiff pose, hands crossed over his knees. Prominent noses, semicircular ears with round earrings in matching painted wave pattern, and high-raised brows, with two button-shaped hair nodules (some might even say Antennae) projecting from the man's brow. Hollow figures like these examples are found throughout areas of Jalisco, Mexico. Two striking examples, easily discernable as being a matched pair, from ancient West Mexico! Size of male: 6.75" W x 13.25" H (17.1 cm x 33.7 cm)
The sculptural creations from the Zacatecas peoples are some of the most admired figures to come out of ancient West Mexico. The consistency of form as well as the bright, recognizable colors of the slip pigmentation, and highly-abstract presentation make them some of the most unique ceramic statues from anywhere in the world, and male/female figures like these examples are often found in pairs exhibiting similar stylization. Though specific to areas of Jalisco, Mexico, these statues are often scarce as scholars believe they were produced only for a brief period of ancient Mesoamerican history. Often figures such as these are either single or mismatched pairs. All aspects of this pair show they were made by the same hand and meant to spend eternity as a couple.
For a few strikingly-similar examples, please see: Kan, Michael, Clement Meighan, and H. B. Nicholson. "Sculpture of Ancient West Mexico: Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima: A Catalogue of the Proctor Stafford Collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art." University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1989, pp. 126-127, figs. 99 a-b, 102.
A pair of strikingly-similar examples hammered for $21,250 at Sotheby's, New York "The Collection of Edwin & Cherie Silver" auction (November 13, 2017, lot 32): http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/african-oceanic-n09620/lot.32.html
Provenance: private Fort Collins, Colorado, USA collection
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#194982
- Condition: Male's proper left "antenna" reattached, liberal root marks and manganese blooms else quite fine.
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| 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 |