Lot 136A
Latin America, Mexico, Ocumichu, stamped "Catalina Martines" (for the artist Catalina Martines Benito) underneath the base, ca. 1940s CE. The tiny town of Ocumicho in the rural Mexican state of Michoacan is the home of some of the most unique Mexican sculptures in which devils and other odd characters, whether they be sun gods, drunkards, or mermaids, cavort and are featured in ceramic tableaux that were made famous by an artist named Marcelino Vicente, but Vicente was actually influenced by the women of his small town who were already creating such bizarre ceramic compositions. This example was in fact created by a predecessor of Vicente, a female artist named Catalina Martines Benito who worked in the 1940s. Here we have a ceramic fantasy that features a large devil holding a pair of skulls and being fed by two horned diablito figures. This bizarre diablitos composition is all set within a leafy, serpent inhabited, altar-like form topped by a central skull. Such Mexican versions of Dante's Inferno or Hieronymous Bosch's nightmarish visions from the 1500s, only with a folk art and Catholic flavor, occupied by writhing diablitos have become, strangely enough, an icon of a relatively conservative, pious community. The piece is comprised of fired red clay; however, the glazes were not fired. Instead, they were painted and then lacquered to produce an attractive sheen. Since they are not glaze fired, such works are quite fragile and most have not survived the test of time this well. Lucky for us, this one has! Size: 8.75" W x 12.75" H (22.2 cm x 32.4 cm)
Follow this link for further understanding of Catalina Martines Benito's work - http://www.mexicoartshow.com/catalina.html. For further reading about Marcelino Vicente, follow this link to Oatman-Stanford's article entitled, "Diablitos in the Details: The Curious Tale of Mexico's Most Peculiar Pottery" (April 5, 2013) - http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-curious-tale-of-mexicos-most-peculiar-pottery/
Provenance: Ex- James Byrnes collection - First curator for LACMA
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.
#113428
- Condition: Nicely repaired in a few places with expected surface wear and minor losses to diablitos' feet and peripheries. Overall very good.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 24.5% 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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |