Lot 46
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A finely varied trio of Colima pottery flat figures presents a compact yet remarkably expressive survey of gender, status, and ceremonial identity in ancient West Mexico. Modeled in the classic flattened style associated with Colima shaft tomb traditions, each figure stands upright, its form reduced yet eloquent, shaped by gesture, adornment, and symbolic detail rather than volume. One figure depicts a nude female with clearly delineated genitalia, wearing earrings and a headdress. Her posture is subtly contrapposto, with the arms drawn inward in a restrained Venus pudica pose, a gesture of modesty that heightens her quiet presence. The modeling emphasizes balance and calm, suggesting fertility, femininity, or ancestral reverence rather than overt narrative. Another figure represents a nude male with an erect phallus, adorned with earrings and a simple headband. Size of largest: 3.1" W x 7.3" H (7.9 cm x 18.5 cm)
The torso and shoulders are marked with stippled appliques interpreted as ceremonial scarification, a visual language commonly associated with ritual status or initiation. His stance is direct and frontal, asserting vitality and potency through form rather than exaggeration.
The shortest of the group adopts the classic Colima gingerbread silhouette, more compact and stout, dressed in a loincloth with applied armbands, a beaded necklace, and a tall conical headdress. This figure's proportions and attire suggest a distinct social or ritual role, perhaps a participant in ceremony or a symbolic attendant within the funerary context.
Colima flat figures such as these were typically placed in shaft tombs as companions for the deceased, embodying archetypes of gender, ritual identity, and social presence. Together, this trio offers a nuanced glimpse into Colima sculptural language, where abstraction, adornment, and posture combine to convey meaning with remarkable economy and enduring force.
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
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
Please note that buyers are responsible for understanding and complying with the import regulations of their destination country. While we carefully prepare and document all shipments, we cannot be held responsible for customs delays, clearance issues, additional duties or taxes, or any seizure of property. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#200377
- Condition: All have chipping to feet and nicks and abrasions to surfaces commensurate with age. Otherwise, all three are intact and very nice with good remaining detail and scattered earthen deposits on surface.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |