Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Jamacoaque culture, ca. 500 CE. A marvelous pottery figure of a seated male warrior elaborately adorned and crowned by a huge headdress of fruits and birds as he grasps a pineapple-form staff or rattle in his left hand and a tablet or shield in his right. Though he wears only a petite loincloth, the ancient figure is heavily decorated in a spiked necklace, bangles, leg bands, intricately incised earspools, and nose and chin ornaments. His multi-tiered headdress is flanked by a pair of birds, fruits resembling pineapples, and long ribbons that flow down his shoulders, as a stippled pot surrounded by 3 more birds balances atop his head. Gazing forth from semicircular eyes, his visage features a pointed nose and full lips. Note the pale green pigment adorning his ornaments - this would have been applied after firing and intended to represent greenstone such as jade, turquoise, or even emerald. Size: 6.8" W x 13.9" H (17.3 cm x 35.3 cm)

The Jama Coaque culture is best known for its ceramic figurines and vessels that, like this example, are typically more elaborately adorned and clothed than those of other coastal cultures of their day. Headdresses, jewelry, and styles of dress were all signifiers of rank and social status within many pre-Columbian societies. This figure represents one of the best-known aspects of the Jamacoaque (Jama Coaque) artistic legacy, a realistic pottery figure that was probably a portrait of an individual who members of their society would have recognized.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#173364

Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over break lines. Losses to bird head on proper right side of headdress, beak of 1 bird on bowl, and possibly 1 spike on necklace. Surface wear as shown with expected nicks, chips, and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with ample remaining pigment. Rich mineral deposits to torso. TL holes beneath left foot and verso of headdress on right side.