Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Property from the Estate of Patsy R. Taylor
Colima Seated Figure of a Shaman Protoclassic, circa 100 BC - AD 250
Lot Closed
May 18, 07:55 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Estate of Patsy R. Taylor
Colima Seated Figure of a Shaman
Protoclassic, circa 100 BC - AD 250
Height: 12 1/4 in (31.1 cm)
Gray and Patsy R. Taylor, Greenwich, acquired from the above on November 16, 1970
The shaman is posed in a ceremonial gesture, turned sharply to his left (the direction evil spirits were believed to approach from), and blowing into his raised hand. The turtle carapace pendant was an accoutrement of a shaman whose rattling noise was believed to excite the supernatural spirits. Such figures are characteristically shown with a crescentic headdress and broad incised crisscrossed chest band.
For a similar example, see Mireille Holsbeke and Karel Arnaut, Offerings for a New Life: Funerary Images from Pre-Columbian West Mexico, Antwerp, 1998, p. 70, cat. no. 4a.