Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz culture, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A hollow pottery "Sonriente" head from the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Sonrientes, or "smiling faces", are the most famous pottery from this period in Veracruz (known as Remojadas for its keystone archaeological site). Like this one, they depict wide, smiling, childlike faces, often with teeth showing. Atop this figure's head is a large, flattened headdress with a depiction of a heron-like bird on it. The heron may be related to the Mesoamerican god the Maya called Itzamna, who according to some legends was the bringer of the cacao plant. Comes with custom stand. Size: 5.75" W x 5.25" H (14.6 cm x 13.3 cm); height on stand: 10.2" (25.9 cm)

Smiling faces are very rare in most Mesoamerican art, but in Remojadas and the surrounding area, there are thousands of these Sonrientes figures, leading to a mystery for archaeologists. Some have suggested that the smiles are the result of consuming the alcoholic beverage pulque, or taking hallucinogenic drugs; others see them as representing performers.

Provenance: private Philadelphia, USA collection of B. Z.

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#123314

  • Condition: Piece is a fragment, the head removed from its larger body. The headdress has been repaired and one spool earring is missing. There is also a small loss from one side of the headdress border.

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June 8, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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