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Pre-Columbian, Valley of Mexico, Teotihuacan, ca. 3rd to 7th century CE. A fine example of a standing anthropomorphic figure that is hand-carved from mottled forest green serpentine bearing cream, dark gray, beige, and sage green inclusions. The intriguing effigy presents standing atop a pair of attenuated, delineated legs formed via a large string-cut groove, with both arms draped to wide hips, and rounded shoulders that taper to a broad neckline, all in front of a planar verso. The enlarged head exhibits a pair of slit-form eyes with puffy lids, full lips parted in the middle above an angular chin, tab-shaped ears, and full cheeks flanking a triangular nose, and resting above is a tiered cap with incised X motifs across the front. Several incised areas on the body, face, and cap are embellished with vibrant cinnabar that contrasts nicely against the veridian-hued serpentine. Size: 2.66" W x 6.1" H (6.8 cm x 15.5 cm); 6.6" H (16.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Teotihuacan was at one time the largest city in the Pre-Columbian world, famous for its pyramids (Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon) as well as the Great Compound with the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (aka Temple of the Plumed Serpent) punctuating the Avenue of the Dead. Stone figures like this example are perhaps the best-known works of Teotihuacan art. Examples like this figure from Teotihuacan often have idealized features (rather than individual depictions) and calm expressions, with simple lines used economically in order to create powerful effigies without excessive detail.

Cf. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession numbers AC1992.134.14 and AC1996.146.51

Provenance: ex-Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA collection; ex-B.G. Malone collection, Texas, USA, acquired in Mexico between 1963 and 1969, and in the USA prior to 1970

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

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.

#168557

Head reattached at neck, with very small chips along the verso and light adhesive residue along break lines. Losses to proper right corner of head as well as portions of both feet and hands as shown. Minor abrasions to body, limbs, and head, with fading to cinnabar pigment in some areas, and very light encrustations within some recessed areas. Wonderful surface smoothness throughout and great remains of cinnabar pigment in obverse areas.