Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A Nayarit polychrome pottery figure depicting a fierce warrior paradoxically holding a puppy in one hand and an intimidating club in the other - perhaps capturing the gentler side of this combatant slugger, perhaps presenting the pup he is about to sacrifice. He wears a characteristically pointed, conical headdress decorated with white dots, elaborate shell-shaped ear ornaments, a black and white painted beaded necklace, a v-neck white, short-sleaved shirt or tunic, short red trousers (or perhaps no trousers at all) with penis prominently featured, and black leg coverings or boots with circular ornaments at the ankles. The warrior's expressive visage is delineated with coffee-bean shaped eyes, a protruding nose, and open mouth with incised marks at the corners to emphasize the fact that he is speaking, chanting, or singing, and black on red tattoos or face paint. The entire figure is painted in contrasting hues of deep red, orange, black,and white. Size: 5.5" W x 12.25" H (14 cm x 31.1 cm)

Work created by the indigenous of West Mexico has fascinated the art world for quite some time. This interest was sparked when the early modern masters of Mexico and beyond took notice and began to collect Nayarit, Colima, and Jalisco pieces and incorporated Pre-Columbian themes into their own work. Diego Rivera for instance amassed a significant collection and focussed on West Mexico. He acquired approximately 60,000 pieces and displayed them in his home-tomb museum, paying homage to this shaft-tomb culture!

Provenance: Ex-Dr. John Hilsabeck collection acquired in the early 1960's

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#117882

Tiny nick to tip of puppy's ear. Expected surface wear and pigment loss commensurate with age.