Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, La Tolita (Tumaco) culture, ca. 600 BCE to 200 CE. A fascinating mold-made pottery figure caught in mid transformation from human to jaguar! The crouching body has legs spread, male genitals visible. The elongated head has remains of post-fire red pigment, human ears but a snarling jaguar mouth - huge canines, a long, round tongue, and narrowed eyes. La Tolita art is characterized by carefully detailed figures, with abundant reference made to mythological creatures, especially those that were half human and half jaguar. Part of religious practice in this society was the ritual ingestion of hallucinogenic or otherwise mind-altering drugs in order for a shaman or priest to assume an animalistic state. This intriguing sculpture appears to depict a shaman in this act of transformation! Size: 3" L x 2" W x 4" H (7.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 10.2 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-private Ohio, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s; ex-Rogers collection, Florida, USA, since the 1960s

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#175815

In very fine condition; intact and without damage or restoration. Great mineral deposits and remains of pigments.