Lot 12
Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Quimbaya, ca. 500 to 1200 CE. A commanding terracotta slab figure from the Quimbaya culture, modeled in a bold, abstract style that immediately distinguishes this tradition. The male figure sits upright and nude, his body defined by broad planes and rounded limbs. Between the legs, a petite erect phallus underscores his masculinity and perhaps his connection to fertility or generative force. Two drilled perforations pierce the slab body, possibly for ritual suspension or attachment of ornaments. The rectangular head dominates the composition, its crown pierced with a row of holes that may once have supported feathers or other adornments. A sharply projecting triangular nose juts from a flat face, flanked by narrow incised eyes that lend the effigy a timeless, watchful presence. The right arm rises in a gesture, while the left hand rests against the knee, the posture at once formal and assertive. Size: 5.8" L x 11" W x 15.9" H (14.7 cm x 27.9 cm x 40.4 cm)
The feet are modeled with splayed toes, offering a touch of naturalism amid the bold abstraction.
Quimbaya ceramics are celebrated for inventive stylization and symbolic potency. Figures like this, with their imposing geometry and striking presence, likely served ritual or funerary purposes, embodying ancestral spirits or supernatural beings. The pierced crown may signal adornment associated with rank or divine authority, while the monumental face emphasizes watchful power. A fine example of Quimbaya artistry, this figure demonstrates the culture's mastery of abstraction to express identity, authority, and spiritual force.
Provenance: private Burbank, Illinois, USA collection via inheritance 2024, acquired between 1970s to 2000s
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#196323
- Condition: Missing fingers on proper right hand. Professionally repaired and restored with restoration over some break lines, while other break lines visible in areas with infill. Chipping to nose and nicks and abrasions in areas, commensurate with age.
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