**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Jamacoaque (Jama Coaque) culture, ca. 500 CE. A finely detailed, hand-built pottery female figure of a hollow form depicted in a prone position. The intriguing effigy presents laying flat on a slightly rounded belly, lays with bent arms extending out from sloped shoulders, and has a gently curved back that traces down to form the muscular legs. Blue-green pigment embellishes both wrist bangles as well as her grand necklace, and her stylized visage is colored with burnt sienna pigment. Ovoid eyes, a slender nose with a broad ornament, full lips, and orb-adorned ears comprise her delicate countenance, all beneath a large hat with a pair of tassets draped down her shoulders. Highly burnished and colorful, this is a fine figure to complement any collection! Size: 8.25" L x 4.25" W x 4.875" H (21 cm x 10.8 cm x 12.4 cm)

The Jama Coaque culture, named for the towns of Jama and Coaque of the Pacific coast of Ecuador, is known for its pottery, especially large human-shaped molded statues adorned with appliques and painted with rich pigments. Dress and ornament were identifiers of clans and ethnic groups and markers of rank among many ancient American peoples. Information encoded in elements of clothing and jewelry would have been understood by the members of those groups.

Provenance: ex-private Arcadia, California, USA collection, before 2000

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#164437

Chips to nose, hands, arms, and feet, with fading to pigment, and abrasions and light encrustations, otherwise intact and very good. Great preservation to pigment across front of figure. One small vent slip on bottom of belly.