Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco and Nayarit, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A group of three hand-modeled terracotta figures from ancient West Mexico, each reflecting distinct regional traditions and symbolic roles. The largest is a seated Jalisco female, bare-chested with full breasts, one hand behind her head and the other holding a shallow bowl at her abdomen. Her posture and gesture suggest ritual or offering. The mid-sized figure, also Jalisco, stands nude with prominent breasts and traces of white slip over black linear designs - likely representing ceremonial tattoos. The smallest is a seated Nayarit figure, androgynous and nude, with hands on hips and a broad, abstracted head. The minimal form evokes a liminal or youthful identity. Such figures were buried in shaft tombs to serve and accompany the deceased, representing themes of fertility, identity, and ancestral presence. Size of largest: 5.7" W x 9.7" H (14.5 cm x 24.6 cm)

Provenance: private Nashville, Tennessee, USA collection

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#195053

  • Condition: All have been professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over some break lines, while others are visible with adhesive. Liberal remaining pigments and light earthen deposits throughout.

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December 5, 2025 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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