Colima Burnished Redware Mask, ex-Mathias Komor
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 100 BCE – 100 CE. A serene human face modeled in burnished red-orange pottery, its ovoid form swelling to a smooth domed cranium. Slit almond eyes sit beneath softly ridged brows, the narrow nose tapers to flared nostrils, and an incised line defines the closed mouth. Applied slab ears project at either side, each pierced for ornaments, while paired holes at the upper and lower rim allowed the mask to be suspended or bound. Mineral deposits mottle the polished slip. Masks of this scale were not worn by the living but placed with the dead in the deep shaft tombs of western Mexico, laid on or near the body as a substitute countenance for the deceased. Size: 9" W x 6.5" H (22.9 cm W x 16.5 cm H).
The Colima peoples of the Pacific coastal lowlands are best known for the shaft-tomb tradition they shared with neighboring Nayarit and Jalisco: vertical shafts sunk several meters into volcanic tuff, opening into lateral chambers furnished with burnished redware effigies, the celebrated fattened dogs, warriors, musicians, and vessels. Face masks form a rarer class within that repertory. Their suspension perforations and the absence of cut eye or mouth openings argue against use in life; instead they appear to have been fixed to funerary bundles, wooden armatures, or the wall of the tomb itself, an idealized face held in permanent repose.
Mathias Komor (1909-1984), whose labels remain on mask and base, was among the most respected New York dealers in ancient and Asian art from the 1940s through the 1970s, and his custom hardwood mounts are a recognizable signature of the material that passed through his hands.
Provenance: Collection of Elisabeth and Jean-Paul Carlhian, to daughter by descent. Ex. Mathias Komor Gallery, copy of receipt dated: April 20, 1964, with Komor labels affixed on mask and base.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #
73026
Condition
Excellent ancient surface patina with scattered mineral deposits. Intact, excellent condition.
Buyer's Premium
30%
Sale price
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 100 BCE – 100 CE. A serene human face modeled in burnished red-orange pottery, its ovoid form swelling to a smooth domed cranium. Slit almond eyes sit beneath softly ridged brows, the narrow nose tapers to flared nostrils, and an incised line defines the closed mouth. Applied slab ears project at either side, each pierced for ornaments, while paired holes at the upper and lower rim allowed the mask to be suspended or bound. Mineral deposits mottle the polished slip. Masks of this scale were not worn by the living but placed with the dead in the deep shaft tombs of western Mexico, laid on or near the body as a substitute countenance for the deceased. Size: 9" W x 6.5" H (22.9 cm W x 16.5 cm H).
The Colima peoples of the Pacific coastal lowlands are best known for the shaft-tomb tradition they shared with neighboring Nayarit and Jalisco: vertical shafts sunk several meters into volcanic tuff, opening into lateral chambers furnished with burnished redware effigies, the celebrated fattened dogs, warriors, musicians, and vessels. Face masks form a rarer class within that repertory. Their suspension perforations and the absence of cut eye or mouth openings argue against use in life; instead they appear to have been fixed to funerary bundles, wooden armatures, or the wall of the tomb itself, an idealized face held in permanent repose.
Mathias Komor (1909-1984), whose labels remain on mask and base, was among the most respected New York dealers in ancient and Asian art from the 1940s through the 1970s, and his custom hardwood mounts are a recognizable signature of the material that passed through his hands.
Provenance: Collection of Elisabeth and Jean-Paul Carlhian, to daughter by descent. Ex. Mathias Komor Gallery, copy of receipt dated: April 20, 1964, with Komor labels affixed on mask and base.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #
73026
Condition
Excellent ancient surface patina with scattered mineral deposits. Intact, excellent condition.
Buyer's Premium
30%
Sale price
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
