Description:

Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast of Mexico, Veracruz, Remojadas, ca. 600 to 900 CE. A charming pottery "Sonriente" head from the Veracruz region of Gulf Coast Mexico. Sonrientes, or "smiling faces," are the most famous pottery from this period in Veracruz, and, like this one, they depict wide, grinning, childlike faces, often with teeth showing. Atop the head is an elaborate headdress with glyph-like geometric symbols. Smiling faces are very rare in 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. Size: 5.3" W x 5.4" H (13.5 cm x 13.7 cm); 7.8" H (19.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA, June 26th, 2017, lot 215; ex-private Murray collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#172467

  • Condition: Fragment of a larger piece. Loss of proper left earring. Light surface wear. Otherwise, excellent with nicely preserved details.

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June 29, 2022 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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