Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Jama Coaque (Jamacoaque) culture, ca. 200 BCE to 500 CE. A fascinating ceramic female effigy flute, her body decorated with incredible painted motifs. The woman depicted would have been an elite in the society, and her likeness may have been based on a real woman. Her body is colored dark red on her hands and forearms as well as on her feet and lower legs; the same color wraps around her waist and forms a long curve from one shoulder across both her breasts. Aside from that, her body is buff-colored and unpainted. Size: 5.3" W x 10" H (13.5 cm x 25.4 cm)

The woman's face is painted dark red, as is the back of her tremendous headdress. Incised on her cheeks and forehead are curved lines filled with a pale orange pigment. Her earrings and nose rings are painted a pale teal, and the simple necklace she wears is composed of painted teal and pale orange beads. Her headdress is asymmetrical, rounded and thin, like an extension of a shaped skull; one side has a long strip that hangs down onto one shoulder, the other has a short projection from it that is painted the same pale orange. This attire must have had deep meaning to the artisan who made the piece and to the audience for whom it was intended.

Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired at Arte Primitivo, New York, USA

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.

#127173

One arm has been repaired; also repaired at neck/shoulder. Small chip from unrepaired arm. Excellent remaining pigment.