Lot 51
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A quietly commanding terracotta figure, this seated woman embodies the earthy confidence and sculptural directness that define classic Nayarit figural pottery. Modeled in warm reddish clay with soft surface wear from burial, the figure sits firmly grounded, her legs bent beneath her, her torso upright and balanced. She is depicted semi-nude, wearing a simple skirt while her bare chest is fully exposed, with carefully delineated breasts emphasized by gesture and form. One arm rests across her breast in a pose that feels both intimate and declarative, while the other settles at her waist, reinforcing the figure's physical presence and composure. The body is compact and volumetric, with rounded hips and thighs that speak to fertility, abundance, and social identity rather than idealized anatomy. Size: 4.3" L x 5.6" W x 10.8" H (10.9 cm x 14.2 cm x 27.4 cm)
Her head is richly adorned with a band encircling the crown, layered ear ornaments, and a prominent nose ring, elements that signal status, adornment, and personal identity within Nayarit society. The facial features are stylized yet expressive, with heavy-lidded eyes, a pronounced nose, and a calm, inward expression. Traces of darker mineral staining and firing variations animate the surface, adding visual depth and age-earned character.
Figures of this type were typically placed in shaft tombs as part of complex burial assemblages, serving as companions, representations of ancestors, or embodiments of social roles in the afterlife. This sculpture stands as a compelling example of Nayarit artistry, where the human form is rendered with frankness, symbolism, and an unembarrassed celebration of bodily presence.
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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#200668
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration over break lines; all done expertly and very difficult to notice. Chip to proper left leg and some weathering to surface as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with liberal remaining details and scattered earthen deposits.
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