Pre-Columbian, Southwest Mexico, Guerrero State, Xochipala culture, Mesoamerican Formative Period, ca. 13th to 10th century BCE; West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A delightful pair of standing pottery figures: a male from Jalisco culture and a female from Guerrero Xochipala culture. First, the Jalisco male figure features a dramatic stance with legs spread and bent at the knees and nubbin arms held out at each side. Wearing only a pair of knee-length shorts, his stylized body displays a protruding belly, a bulbous posterior, a hunched back, and flattened limbs. His elongated head is capped by a chin-length coiffure and flared headdress, as he gazes forth from an expressive visage of coffee bean-shaped eyes, a pointed nose, and full, gently parted lips. Conversely, the Xochipala female stands atop bulging legs and places both hands on her wide hips. Size of larger (Xochipala female): 1.5" W x 5.1" H (3.8 cm x 13 cm); 5.5" H (14 cm) on included custom stand.

A helmet-like headdress crowns her square face, which showcases almond-shaped eyes with pronounced lids and incised pupils, a triangular nose, and an open mouth. She is adorned by carefully applied details, such as a slender belt with a protruding, central buckle, a necklace, a pair of earspools, horizontal and vertical headbands, and a lengthy braid that trails down her back. Liberal remains of red and gray pigments further embellish the surface of both figures.

Provenance: Barakat Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA acquired before 2000

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#170874

Both have areas of professional repair and restoration, as well as expected surface wear with nicks, scratches, and abrasions, commensurate with age. Jalisco figure has modern burnish and resurfacing. Xochipala figure has loss to proper right side of belt. Otherwise, both are excellent with great remaining detail, liberal remains to pigments, and nice earthen deposits throughout.