Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A haunting and evocative example of a shaft tomb figure, this is a standing woman made from thick ceramic. She has a detailed, naturalistic face, with large eyes, huge earrings, and a nose ring. She wears something around her waist, but is otherwise nude, with large breasts. Each of her feet is formed into two points, so that she stands well on her own. She has one hand held out to the side, while the other holds up a bowl, perhaps meant to contain offerings. Her stomach indicates that she may be pregnant. Size: 8.75" W x 11.5" H (22.2 cm x 29.2 cm)

West Mexican shaft tomb figures like this one derive their names from the central architectural feature that we know of from this culture. These people would build generally rectangular vertical shafts down from the ground level down to narrow horizontal tunnels that led to one or more vaulted or rounded burial chambers. The geomorphology in the area means that these chambers are dug out of tepetate, a type of volcanic tuff material, which give the chambers a rough-edged look. Although the dimensions of the chambers vary considerably - some only large enough to hold a single burial and its offerings, others seem designed to hold entire lineages - the placement of burial goods like this hollow figure was very similar. Grouped with other hollow figures, and alongside clay bowls, and boxes, they were positioned around the body (or bodies), near the skull. Unfortunately, we lack the information we would need to understand what these figures were made for - do they represent everyday people, even individuals? Are they religious? Were they created to mediate between the living and the dead? Whatever their purpose, today they are beautiful artwork and reminders of the mysterious past.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-John Smith Collection, Roswell, Georgia, USA; Appraised by Spencer Throckmorton at his Galleries in New York, USA on Nov. 15, 2000

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#126872

Well done and difficult to see repairs and restoration. Beautiful manganese deposits over nearly the entire body.