Nayarit, West Coast

Female Figure Nayarit, West Coast, 100 BC - 200 AD Terracotta and pigments 16 cm heigth. Condition: Good, see photos. Provenance: Ex. The Lands Beyond, New York, priorto 24 October 1992. Ex. Donald Wonder (1938-2023), New Jersey, after thence by descent. With spanish import / export license. This culture developed on the western coast of Mexico in a tropical zone of rainforests and abundant rivers, streams and lakes, as well as mosquitoes, alligators and poisonous snakes. Nayarit ceramic pieces were made using a variety of production and finishing techniques. Negative and positive painting were often used for decoration, although representations were very dissimilar. Human images are quite life-like, but body shapes are often elongated or stylized to achieve greater expression. These figures do point to some aesthetic aspects of Nayarit culture, such as cranial deformation, the use of nose ornaments, pendants and necklaces, and ornate clothing. Notable figures include females holding ceramic vessels, sitting down, crouching, or reclining. Animal representations are rare, but those that have been found often are of dogs. Nayarit elites were buried in complex tombs consisting of a chamber at the bottom of a deep pit. Family members were buried in the same chamber, accompanied by an array of grave goods that might include ceramic vessels and sculptures. Of particular note are the Nayarit’s statues of warriors and dogs that were left to protect and guide the deceased to the afterlife.

Estimate:$1,008.39

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