Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. An impressively large and whimsically detailed Colima pottery early (Tico) type of flat figure, sometimes called 'gingerbread' figures for obvious reasons - that flat, abstract form with extended limbs presenting a pantomime-like pose. Its characteristically elongated, pointy head presents an expressive visage comprised of coffee-bean shaped eyes, a protruding nose, full subtly smiling lips, pierced ears thought to have originally held feathers or other perishables, now lost to time, a rounded chin, and a boldly delineated coiffure, parted in the middle with incised strands. Interestingly, the figure's hands and feet were painted black and there seems to be remains of a painted loin cloth. 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. Surface replete with root marks and mineral deposits. An excellent example from the West Mexican shaft tomb tradition. Custom, museum-quality stand. Size: 5.625" W x 11" H (14.3 cm x 27.9 cm); 11.25" H (28.6 cm) on stand

Provenance: Ex-Peter Arnovick collection, San Francisco, CA

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#117606

Right arm and head reattached. Small loss to applied hairband atop coiffure. Generous manganese deposits across surface.