**Originally Listed At $600**

Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec or Proto Mayan culture, ca. 1150 to 300 BCE. A carved stone figure, sitting in a crouched pose with his right knee folded beneath his body and his left knee bent, his legs spread so as to revealing his genitals. An unusual pose as opposed to the more common rigid, standing pose. This fellow's face presents hallmark Olmec babyface features on a characteristically elongated head, with an open jaguar-like mouth, a wide nose, and long slit eyes. Interestingly he wears a helmet and a long jaguar tail is visible on the verso, suggesting that he may be engaged in a transformative state. Size: 5" W x 7" H (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)

This figure represents the transitional period between the Olmec and the Mayan. He boasts Olmecoid facial features including slanted, slightly crossed eyes, fleshy baby face cheeks and were-jaguar mouth. We also see signs of Mayan interest in highlighting the status of this figure with the helmet, and a fascination with the jaguar which bridged the Mayan to the Olmec culture.

Provenance: private Lexington, Kentucky, USA; de-accession from The Boca Raton Museum of Art

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#130564

Losses to arms and peripheries of figure as shown. Expected surface wear with nice manganese deposits scattered across the surface.