Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Tlatilco or Michoacan, ca. 1200 to 500 BCE. This is a rare depiction of what appears to be either a magical being with two heads or, more likely, conjoined twins. It is hand made, rather than molded, and showed the body of a woman with two legs and the upper body covered with a poncho; the body gets increasingly wider towards the shoulders and there are two separate necks and heads, but the heads are joined at eye level and linked by an enormous headdress. There are only two ears on the figure, one on the outside of each head. Some archaeologists have argued that these very rare double headed female figures represent something magical -- a shamanistic transformation -- or metaphorical -- the concept of duality. However, others have made convincing arguments that these figures actually depict conjoined twins. The cluster of two-headed female figures from this area and time period could be evidence of a genetic predisposition to conjoined twins amongst these people. Either way, this is a very rare and interesting figure in excellent condition for its age. Comes with custom stand. Size: 5-3/4" H x 5-1/2" W (14.6 cm x 14 cm).

Provenance: Ex-private New York Collection

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#110968

Intact with expected wear.