Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz, ca. 100 BCE to 800 CE. A charming pottery "Sonriente" male figure, shown seated, from the Veracruz region of Gulf Coast Mexico. Like many hollow pieces of pottery from this region, he functions as an ocarina, with a mouthpiece at one elbow and a series of holes on his back to be played. Sonrientes, or "smiling faces", are the most famous pottery from this period in Veracruz (known as Remojadas for its keystone archaeological site). Like this one, they depict wide, smiling, childlike faces, often with teeth showing. This figure also wears traditional jewelry, including what appear to be delicately carved cowrie shell anklets around his ankles; this is interesting because cowrie shells are a Pacific coast product and so would have had to be traded to arrive in the Veracruz region. Atop his head is an elaborate headdress, and around his body is a belt with glyph-like geometric symbols. Size: 10.95" W x 10" H (27.8 cm x 25.4 cm)

Smiling faces are very rare in Mesoamerican art, but in Remojadas and the surrounding area, there are thousands of these Sonrientes figures, leading to a mystery for archaeologists. Some have suggested that the smiles are the result of consuming the alcoholic beverage pulque, or taking hallucinogenic drugs; others see them as representing performers.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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.

#140925

One arm is repaired in two places and one leg is also repaired in one place.