Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast of Mexico, Veracruz (Vera Cruz) culture, ca. 3rd to 7th century CE. A hand-built pottery anthropomorphic figure wearing a red-painted skirt, a minimalist necklace, and a massive headdress with several protruding 'teeth' that line the underside of the brim. The rounded face bears red-painted cheeks, black eyes and lips, and large earrings that drape down to the shoulders. A pair of conical legs create a squat figural presentation, and a whistle mouthpiece on the verso was perhaps used to communicate over vast distances at one time. Size: 7.875" W x 9.875" H (20 cm x 25.1 cm)

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, before 2000; ex-Heritage Auctions

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#169586

Losses to tip of proper right foot, skirt fringe, arms or lateral skirt areas, and sections of headdress, with repair and restoration to several small areas of headdress and full left leg and resurfacing with overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions to surface pigment and light encrustations as shown. Figure cannot stand upright unassisted due to lack of third leg on verso. Whistle on verso does not function.