686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Mar 20, 2025
<i>** This heavy/oversized item requires third-party shipping, which may affect delivery time. Please inquire about shipping costs and delivery before bidding ** </i><br><br>Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast Mexico, Veracruz (Vera Cruz), ca. 3rd to 7th century CE. A wonderful hollow-built pottery male figure seated with crossed legs and wearing a small loincloth, his rigid posture emphasized by broad shoulders and stocky arms, and his neck decorated with applied necklaces boasting a number of large stones, his ears with carved jade ear flares. On his head he wears a tight-fitting cap with raised decoration at the front and featherlike appendages to each side. His straight hair is cut straight across his forehead. His eyes, necklace, hair and parts of his headdress are colored with black bitumen. Size: 10" W x 18.25" H (25.4 cm x 46.4 cm) Size: 10" W x 18.25" H (25.4 cm x 46.4 cm)
Excavations near the modern Mexican town of Remojadas have revealed two types of impressive, detailed pottery figures from the Veracruz period: the Sonrientes, the joyous "smiling faces," and figures like this one, more serious, mostly adult figures, sometimes with elaborate costumes, themes, and props that all seem to point towards religious or political ceremonies. These figures are often found with the bodies broken into pieces though with the heads largely intact, as they were ritually destroyed as burial offerings. Their clothing suggests that they depict people of import in society, perhaps priests or nobility.
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: private Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA collection, acquired in 2012; ex-Cichon Tribal Arts, Sarasota, Florida, USA; ex-Gregory estate, New York City, New York, USA, 1970s - 1980s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#192390
Like almost all large Veracruz figures, this example has been broken and repaired from numerous pieces, some restoration skillfully hides and losses.
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.