Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. This is a very interesting and rare piece, one of my favorites. A heavy, hollow, handmade pottery figure of a sea creature, head reared and mouth open, body curved in a very life-like pose. The mouth is ringed with flattened teeth; ears extend from either side of the head; a small tail and four flippers. Red painted details give spots and a long cross-like design on the back, as well as ringing the mouth. The interesting question, for interpreting the piece, is if it represents a true animal, a mythical creature, or some kind of transformative figure, half real, half myth? The vast majority of figures we find from the Nayarit are humans, so we have few animals to compare it to, but it seems likely that it is at least based on a real animal, with some small artistic license taken. The presence of ears suggest that this is a representation of a fur seal, perhaps the Guadalupe fur seal, known from Mexico's Pacific Coast. The Nayarit, like other ancient cultures, were most likely keen observers of nature and may have hunted the seals that washed up on their shores. However, the lack of "fingers" on the flippers (there are five "fingers" on the back flippers of a true fur seal) and the strange teeth (seals have large canines) are not realistic and therefore suggest some element of monstrosity or transformation to the sculpture. Size: 12.5" W x 6.75" H (31.8 cm x 17.1 cm)

This style of sculpture is known as Chinesco by collectors because of its stylistic similarities to Chinese art. Clay figures like this one are the only remains that we have today of a sophisticated and unique culture in West Mexico -- they made no above-ground monuments or sculptures, at least that we know of, which is in strong contrast to developments elsewhere in ancient Mesoamerica. Instead, their tombs were their lasting works of art: skeletons arrayed radially with their feet positioned inward, and clay offerings, like this one, placed alongside the walls facing inward, near the skulls. A large effigy like this one would most likely have flanked the entrance to a tomb in a way that archaeologists have interpreted as guarding. Some scholars have connected these dynamic sculptures of the living as a strong contrast to the skeletal remains whose space they shared, as if they mediated between the living and the dead.

Provenance: Ex-Huber collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#116906

Intact, with fine manganese deposits over surface and much remaining pigment.