**Originally Listed At $4250**

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. An incredible, huge earthenware guardian figure from the West Mexican shaft tomb culture. The artistry and detail of this piece speaks to the great importance that ancient Jaliscoans placed on furnishing the tombs of their kin. The figure is male, dressed in a manner that is often associated with male figures, including the horned helmet that probably signifies the role of a shaman. He stands with a club across his chest, gripped in both hands. He wears a cape over his left shoulder (which is a fantastic, free-hanging piece of clay that must have been very difficult to fire), has a belt with a dangling, celt-like item just below the belly button, and wears the two horned hat, which is painted with round, pale yellow geometric motifs. Huge ear spools and a nose ring complete the outfit. Size: 8.75" W x 17.7" H (22.2 cm x 45 cm)

Painted lines on the figure, done in that same pale yellow color, suggest tattoos or possibly scarification. The most prominent of these are around the neck and eyes. The figure has a large face, with huge, staring eyes that look slightly upward; the nose is well-sculpted and realistic, the mouth set in a grim, slightly-open line. The ears are large, and the shape of the skull inside the hat may suggest skull shaping, a common practice in the pre-Columbian New World that may have identified this figure as a member of a particular family.

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 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 gives 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 Guy Waters collection, Clearwater, Florida, USA, acquired since the late 1970s

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#125063

Excellent repairs and restoration with very small areas of overpainting along repair lines. Much original pigment remaining with caliche and manganese deposits on surface.