Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, Guanacaste/Nicoya region, ca. 200 to 600 CE. A wonderful pair of hand-built pottery female figures, known as Venus figures, each possessing the elegant stylings of the Guanacaste-Nicoya artisans. Both sit upon bulbous posteriors with voluptuous thighs spread apart, arms curled to their ample hips, and round shoulders tracing inwards to their wide necks. They are adorned with striking painted decorative programs in red and black on a cream-hued ground, with panels of dense linear motifs. Each stylized visage exhibits giant, almond-eyes with petite pupils, a petite nose with incised nostrils, and a large, red-painted mouth that stretches the width of each face. Both females wear tall, flared headdresses with elaborately painted decorations atop their brows. A petite suspension loop is featured on the verso of the larger figure's head. Size (of largest): 3.9" W x 6" H (9.9 cm x 15.2 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Chicago, Illinois, USA collection; ex-private Chicago, Illinois, USA collection

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#167530

Head of larger reattached with break lines visible. Both have abrasions, nicks, and scratches, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, smaller is intact and both are excellent with impressive remaining pigments.