Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast of Mexico, Veracruz culture, ca. 900 to 1000 CE. An incredible sculptural representation of an old man, with amazing details of the facial features and body. The man seems to have once been seated, with one arm hanging down his side and the other raised to rest against his chest. The fingers are wonderfully detailed, and the elbow joint looks naturalistic. The figure wears a simple loincloth and a necklace that has large rectangular components that hang from its back. The man would have once had a large, elaborate headdress, but it is now missing aside from a flat, wide brim and what looks like a conical horn projecting from one side. Size: 8.05" L x 8.7" W x 14.95" H (20.4 cm x 22.1 cm x 38 cm)

The face is the truly beautiful part of the figure: exquisitely sculpted, with a gaunt appearance, and deep lines at his cheeks, nose, and forehead. His eyes are sunken underneath a heavy brow; his cheeks are also sunken, his nose and mouth pronounced, his lips parted as if he is about to speak. His eyes are deep set and sculpted so that he appears to be looking to one side. He has large ears, with holes through the lobes, perhaps because the figure once wore earrings made of some other material.

Excavations near the town of Remojadas have revealed two types of impressive, detailed pottery figures: the Sonrientes, the joyous "smiling faces" depicting people of all ages and sexes, and figures like this one, more serious, mostly adult figures, with elaborate costumes, themes, and sometimes props that all seem to point towards religious or political ceremonies. These figures are often found with the bodies smashed into pieces and the heads largely intact - they were ritually destroyed as burial offerings. But who was this old man? The identity of Veracruz terracotta figures is unknown, but an old man is a repeated motif in Mexican art from this time period, perhaps referencing one of the Old Gods known from the Mayan pantheon. Then again, he may just be an older member of the local community.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available for $50 to the buyer. Please contact us to request.

Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, acquired before 2000

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#123033

The piece is missing components of the headdress, the centerpiece of its necklace, one arm, and both legs. What remains has been repaired from two large pieces, but the repair is well done and unobtrusive. Manganese deposits over the body's surface. The face is in excellent condition. TL drill holes beneath base and inside of head.