Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A large, fascinating example of a shaft tomb figure depicting a woman. She stands, wearing a skirt, with breasts and a slight paunch that may indicate pregnancy. In each hand, she holds a flat slab, one pressed against her chest and the other held upward. Are these artistic implements? Used to prepare food or drugs? Her well-rendered hands wrap around each, the fingers deeply incised. Her face is of the style sometimes called "sheepface", with a long face, a prominent nose, and two slightly impressed, almond-shaped eyes. She wears huge plug-like earrings, each with a deeply serrated outer edge. The top of her head is long and rectangular, perhaps indicating the practice of skull shaping and idealized beauty standards in this culture. Her head has an incised pattern forms an elaborate coiffure, with a twisted piece of clay around it, perhaps a crown or headdress. Size: 7.4" W x 15.2" H (18.8 cm x 38.6 cm); 15.8" H (40.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Ceramic figures like this one are some of the only remains that we have today of a sophisticated and unique culture in West Mexico - they left no above-ground monuments or sculptures, at least that we know of, which is in strong contrast to developments elsewhere in ancient Mesoamerica. Instead, their tombs were their lasting works of art: skeletons arrayed radially with their feet positioned inward, and terracotta offerings, like this beautiful figure, placed alongside the walls facing inward, near the skulls.

Provenance: private Stagecoach, Nevada, USA collection; acquired from 1985 to present from galleries such as Arte Primitivo, Art For Eternity, Butterfields and Riverbend Gallery

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#128677

Well done repairs and restoration from multiple pieces, especially in the center of the body. Surface cracks on the face. Excellent details.