Lot 71
Pre-Columbian, Colombia and Ecuador, Narino culture, ca. 750 to 1250 CE. A terracotta figure of a semi-nude female coquera, seated with her legs extended straight before her and arms bent at the elbows so that her hands rest firmly on her hips. She wears a long skirt that drapes over her legs, while her upper body remains bare save for a large pendant necklace that hangs prominently beneath her chest. Her face is expressive, with closed eyes and parted lips that suggest the trance-like state induced by chewing coca leaves, a sacred practice in the Andes that began as early as 3000 BCE. Female coqueras such as this are frequently depicted sitting directly on the ground, in contrast to male figures who are often shown on benches, emphasizing gendered roles within ritual and daily life. The act of coca chewing carried profound spiritual and social significance, providing energy for work at high altitudes, facilitating communication with the divine, and functioning as a central component of ritual practice. Size: 4.7" L x 4.4" W x 5.4" H (11.9 cm x 11.2 cm x 13.7 cm)
This figure embodies both the physical and symbolic aspects of the coca tradition: her posture denotes groundedness and endurance, while her prominent necklace may signal social status or ritual authority. The warm red and cream slip, worn by age, enhances the sense of ancient vitality preserved in this work. A powerful piece that unites artistry, ritual, and cultural memory, this coquera figure stands as a testament to the central role of women in sustaining sacred practices in Pre-Columbian Andean societies.
Cf. University of Miami Lowe Art Museum, 84.0246.13, 94.0010.27, and 84.0246.03.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; previously bequeathed to the Museum for Islamic Art, Jerusalem, Israel, stored for many years and exhibited in 1988; ex-Yosef A. Maiman collection, Consul of Peru A.H., acquired in 1993; ex-Kate Kemper collection, Switzerland, acquired in the 1940s or earlier
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#197066
- Condition: Some nicks and abrasions to surface, commensurate with age, but, otherwise intact and excellent with liberal remaining pigments. Heavy encrustations to interior and scattered manganese deposits to exterior.
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