83. Pre-Columbian anthropomorphic figurine, Michoacan culture, approx. 300-100 BCE.

A small figurine depicting a richly adorned female character; she wears a decorated headpiece; she has large, circular earrings resembling cartwheels in her ears; she has several necklaces of different shapes around her neck. The piece is made of fine dark beige clay; it is polished on the surface and covered with yellowish slip. In some areas, traces of red paint are still preserved (on the headpiece, on the face, over the necklaces). Such figures have a funerary role, being made to be placed in graves alongside other offerings.

References

Treasures of Pre-Columbian ceramics from the Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Barcelona; Paris-Barcelona; 2003; p. 153; cat.23

Dimensions

custom h=13.5 cm

Research information

The object was exhibited at the Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Barcelona and was reproduced in "Treasures of Pre-Columbian Ceramics from the Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Barcelona", 2003, cat. 23, p. 153.

PROVENANCE

Collection of Guy Joussemet, Montreal, early 1960s Barbier-Mueller Collection, Geneva, Inv. No. 500-19 Sotheby's Auction, France, 22.03.2013, lot 21

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