A Colima Figure West Mexico, c. 250 BC-AD 250 The broad, immediate presence of this figure begins with it...

Description

A Colima Figure
West Mexico, c. 250 BC–AD 250

The broad, immediate presence of this figure begins with its stance: he stands squarely on short, thick legs, the body rising in a powerful mass broken by a wide belt and pronounced hunchback. The wide belt, cinched at the center and wrapping fully around the waist, reinforces the sculptural breadth of the torso. Large nodules project from the shoulders, the arms are kept short and close, and a substantial necklace with tongue-shaped pendants encircles the chest, adding a strong ornamental rhythm to the neck and shoulder area.

Most affecting is the head. The face is highly expressive, with features modeled in a way that feels individual rather than generic, the nose seemingly broken and displaced to one side, which only heightens the figure's peculiar vitality. He wears a domed cap or coiffure secured by a thick headband. The dark red-brown burnished slip gives the figure added depth and presence, while the overall modeling suggests a work concerned less with ideal beauty than with force, character, and presence. A compelling and unusual example of Colima figural sculpture, notable for its physicality and vividly individualized face.

In good condition; assembled from approximately five large original parts, with repairs over the break lines.

Height: 15 ¼ inches

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500.

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