Description:
A rare solid figure of a dancer, earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment. The figure is leaning slightly forward and bending the knees, with his bent arms apart; each hand is wrapped in a mitt, and possibly he was once lifting a pair of rattles, as seen on some parallel statuettes. He is wearing an elaborate and finely modeled ceremonial attire, including a loincloth that is decorated with applied beads, leg disks, beaded bands around the upper arms and other ornaments on the chest and back. The most striking element of his attire is the headdress, which shows the snout of a crocodile with fierce interlocked teeth, and a tall crest of plumes.
During the Comala phase in Colima and in neighboring southern Jalisco, local traditions of small, solid figurines first seen in Ortices and Tuxcacuesco styles evolved into highly detailed figurines displaying complex ritual attire. Some of these had a headdress that was removable, and some functioned as a whistle from the top of the head, showing their intended ceremonial use.
For highly similar ceremonial dancers see Townsend, p. 22, figs. 11-12, p. 257, figs. 6, 7 and 9; also catalogue nos. 95 – 102, more specifically no. 99 for a dancer with a crocodile mask. Compare also Lynton, p. 90-91, fig. 26 (musicians and dancers with bird masks and helmets) and p. 92-93, fig. 27 (warrior with helmet).
A statuette of a dancer with a comparable headdress was sold at Sotheby´s New York, 16 May 2013, lot 17.
Literature:
Richard F. Townsend (ed.), Ancient West Mexico, Art and Archaeology of the Unknown Past (New York and London, Thames and Hudson; Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998);
Marion and Mark Lynton (eds.), Out of the Depths, Tomb Figures from West Mexico. Catalogue of an Exhibition, Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, Museum of Ethnography, July 4, 1986 through January 11, 1987 (Cologne, 1986).
Dating:
Mexico, Late Preclassic, ca. 300 B.C. – 300 C.E.
Size:
Height 39 cm.
Provenance:
Dutch private collection, acquired in 2002; before that in the collection of Raymond Minney, U.S.A., since the 1950s.
Condition:
Broken and reattached at waist with minor restoration over the break line; repair to arm; minor losses, especially to hands and objects held; some surface wear; mineral deposits. TL tested.
Price:
€ 4,950
Stock number:
P1100