Chupicuaro Polychrome Figural Jar

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Chupicuaro, ca. 500 BCE to 300 CE. An intriguing, hand-built pottery vessel in the form of a stylized anthropomorphic figure seated upon thick legs and a stable, convex base. Highly burnished and presented in hues of russet, cream, and black, the figure bears protruding knees and arms, a squat head upon a broad neck, and a flared rim with a pair of suspension loops along the front. The fascinating face has incised, diamond-shaped eyes flanking a protruding nose, a rectangular cut-out mouth, perky ears, and X-shaped, cream-hued stripes across each cheek that are outlined in black. The cavernous interior cavity perhaps held funerary offerings or even the cremated remains of a deceased individual. Size: 6" W x 7.125" H (15.2 cm x 18.1 cm)

Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired December 2017; ex-Arte Primitivo, New york City, New york, USA; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Arkansas, USA, acquired 1950s to 1960s; Exhibited: Marjorie Barrick Museum, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 1990s and 2000s

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#166555
Condition Report: Minor abrasions to base and body, with softening to incised eyes, light encrustations, and fading to pigment in scattered areas, otherwise intact and very good. Great preservation to pigment and figural form. Old inventory number written in black ink beneath base.