Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A fabulous, hand-built redware of the early Tico typology depicting an ornate flat figure, sometimes referred to as a "gingerbread" form with a characteristic elongated head that tapers at the top, minimalist facial features, a protruding nose, and arms outstretched at the sides. This example is nicely adorned with an applied headdress and pierced ears, which originally held feathers or other ornamentation. The lustrous stone burnished surface is embellished by liberal remains of black-painted design elements. Size: 5.7" W x 8.8" H (14.5 cm x 22.4 cm)

An excellent example from the West Mexican shaft tomb tradition. Ceramic figurines such as this are among the most expressive and dramatic created in Mesoamerica. According to scholars of this tradition, such ceramic figures were the primary outlet for artistic expression for the shaft tomb cultures and there is little record of monumental architecture, stelae, or public art associated with these cultures.

Provenance: private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; ex-Minerva Gallery; ex-Benjamin Vega, California, USA, acquired in 2006 to 2007; ex-Gene and Virginia George, brought to the USA from 1961 to 1966

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#167902

Repair to right toe with break lines visible. Expected nicks and abrasions throughout, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice manganese deposits.