Nayarit Seated Figure, San Sebastián style, Protoclassic, ca. 100 B.C. - 250 A.D.

in a dramatic posture with legs drawn up and holding his head, the open mouth showing teeth and rimmed eyes starring, the body decorated with rows of resist designs, stripes along the face, and wearing numerous armbands, necklaces and earrings, with black and white pigment.

Keith Warner
Stanley Seeger, acquired from the above in the late 1950's
The Stanley Seeger Collection, 1000 Ways of Seeing, (Sotheby's, London, March 5 &6, 2014, lot 190)

Princeton, Princeton University Art Museum, The Stanley J. Seeger Jr. Collection, 1961, no. 155, illus.

Excellent condition overall, with no sign of breakage, restoration, or over-painting. A few tiny losses to the teeth, a chip to the arm across the knees. Tiny chips and losses in places, including to the ends of the feet, and some wear to the surface throughout, commensurate with age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This figure was photographed by Man Ray in Los Angeles in the 1950's at the home of Walter Arensberg, an early collector of modern art including works by Man Ray. Man Ray used the backdrop of the house and various Pre-Columbian sculptures -probably from the collection of Earl Stendahl who bought the Arensberg home in 1954- during the shoot of film stars Tamara Toumanova and Teresa Wright.

The Nayarit 'thinker' or 'mourner' figures with exaggerated limbs may represent a peyote-induced trance; for a highly similar figure, see Meighan and Nicholson (1989:99, Fig. 51).