Lot 5A
Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Las Bocas, Olmec, ca. 700 to 300 BCE. A delightful ceramic vessel in the form of an endearing duck. The duck sits upon its petite feet, which are incised to delineate their webbing and emerge below the waterfowl's ample chest. The duck's head faces forward with large, impressed eyes with delineated pupils and a pointed, slightly open beak. The wings protrude along the sides of the avian body in relief. While nicely modeled and incised with details, the body of the vessel is generally quite smooth and lustrous with wonderful burnishing marks. Size: 3.75" W x 4.6" H (9.5 cm x 11.7 cm)
Las Bocas-style Olmec figures are named after an archaeological site in the modern Mexican state of Puebla, although most of the figures are from the surrounding area and not actually from the site itself. The style has come to be associated with the classic Olmec "baby face" figures. However, ducks were also apparently particularly special to the Olmec, and were often featured in their ceramic artwork. Perhaps this was because ducks are comfortable on land, in the air, as well as in the water - and thus were believed to have the ability to traverse the major worlds of Mesoamerican cosmogony.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.
Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; ex-Minerva Gallery; ex-Benjamin Vega, California, USA, acquired in 2006 to 2007; ex-Gene and Virginia George, brought to the USA from 1961 to 1966
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#170070
- Condition: Repaired from multiple pieces, with light restoration along base, restoration to tail, and resurfacing with overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and minor nicks to base, body, and head, with light fading to original pigmentation, and minor encrustations. First TL hole under the tail, second TL hole back of the head, and third TL hole under the right wing. Light remains of original pigment throughout.
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