Pre-Columbian, Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 10th to 6th century BCE. A dramatic terracotta figure of a seated human baby, posed with legs akimbo and both hands resting on chubby thighs. The child has no visible sex, and has a round belly and wide belly button. The arms and legs are wide, terminating in small feet and hands that emphasize the shape of the body. The head and face are fantastic - with narrow eyes that appear to stare upward at the viewer, a small, wide nose, and a large open mouth with well-delineated lips. The ears are lifelike, with piercings through their lobes that suggests it once wore earrings. The forehead is elongated and flattened above the brow, and the baby also wears either a helmet or has helmet-like hair with a small crest. Remains of white and red slip pigment are seen over much of the child's body and face. There is a deliberate opening at the belly button. Size: 8.25" W x 11.2" H (21 cm x 28.4 cm)

The Olmec are famous for their human depictions; as the first major civilization in this fertile area, their artwork inspired the civilizations that came after them to the point that we think some of them even revered Olmec artwork and kept it as heirlooms. Figures of this style are known as "baby face", with plump bodies and chubby, pouty facial features. Infants are a recurring theme from Olmec art, and this one would likely have once been white-slipped to match other known examples. The shape of their heads - like this one - have been attributed to deliberate skull shaping. For an interesting article about Olmec baby figures see "Olmec Babies as Early Portraiture in the Americas" by James Doyle, Assistant Curator, Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, April 17, 2015.

Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, USA, before 2010; ex-private USA collection

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#149895

Expertly repaired and restored from multiple pieces. This is very well done and difficult to discern.