Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Middle Cauca Complex, Quimbaya culture, ca. 800 to 1300 CE. A gorgeous, hand-built pottery figure of a characteristically abstract form decorated with a lunate tumbaga nose ring. The seated figure exhibits stocky arms and legs bearing incised fingers and toes as well as bulging musculature. Rectangular bands of incised zigzags and stippled patterns adorn both shoulders, wrists, thighs, and ankles to create a high-status presentation to contrast with the minimalist, slab-form body. The tall, rectangular head features slit-form eyes and mouth, pierced ears, 6 perforations lining the brow, and a pierced septum which holds a lustrous tumbaga nose ornament with peripheral stippling formed via repousse. Remains of black pigment are visible across the figure as well as traces of white pigment within the limbs' incised decorations. A stunning example of Quimbaya figural artistry! Size (figure): 9" W x 11.8" H (22.9 cm x 30 cm); (nose ring): 1.4" W x 1.1" H (3.6 cm x 2.8 cm); tumbaga quality: 49% copper, 41% gold, 7% silver

Cf. Labbe, Armand J. "Colombia Before Columbus: The People, Culture, and Ceramic Art of Prehispanic Colombia." Rizzoli International Publications, New York, 1986, pp. 98-99, plates 82 & 83.

Provenance: ex-private Orlando, Florida, USA collection; ex-Art for Eternity, New York, USA; ex-private New York City, New York, USA collection before 2010

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#167872

Professional repair to bottom of slab back beneath thighs, with nearly invisible resurfacing along break lines; only a couple of stable hairline fissures along sides are visible. Nose ring is perhaps not original to this figure but is ancient and of the Quimbaya culture. Abrasions and fading to original pigments, with only minor softening to finer details, and slight bending to nose ring. Great remains of pigment throughout, and wonderful preservation to incised bands across limbs.