Lot 85
Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Jamacoaque (also Jama Coaque), ca. 500 CE. The Jamacoaque culture, named for the towns of Jama and Coaque of the Pacific coast of Ecuador, is known for its pottery, especially large human-shaped molded statues adorned with appliques and painted with rich pigments. This example is clearly a depiction of an elite individual - perhaps a cazique or shaman - seated upon a four legged stool with his right hand raised and holding a tumi knife as his left hand rests upon his left upraised knee. Highly decorated in a horned headdress, double ringed ear ornaments, a massive 'beaded' pectoral with what appears to be a tumi pendant, a nose ornament, armbands, and anklets. His bearded visage is delineated with expressive features. Considerable remains of original blue-green and yellow pigment have survived the tests of time. The blue-green of the ornaments applied after firing was probably intended to represent greenstone such as jade, turquoise, or even emerald. Size: 5.125" H (13 cm)
Dress and ornament were identifiers of clans and ethnic groups and markers of rank among many ancient American peoples. Information encoded in elements of clothing and jewelry would have been understood by the members of those groups.
See similar examples of this type in "Pre-Columbian Art of South America" by Alan Lapiner and "Amerindian Signs, 5000 Years of Pre-Columbian Art in Ecuador" by Valdez.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection
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#129661
- Condition: Legs and one arm reattached. Normal surface wear with scuffs and tiny nicks here and there. Nice surface pigment and manganese deposits.
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