Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Property from an American Private Collection
Xochipala Standing Figure, Early Preclassic, circa 1200-900 BC
Lot Closed
November 21, 07:30 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Property from an American Private Collection
Xochipala Standing Figure
Early Preclassic, circa 1200-900 BC
Height: 9 ¾ in (24.8 cm)
American Private Collection, acquired from the above in July 1976
Gerald Berjonneau, Emile Deletaille and Jean-Louis Sonnery, Rediscovered Masterpieces of Mesoamerica: Mexico-Guatemala-Honduras, Boulogne, 1985, p. 199, cat. no. 307
The Center for African Art, New York, Likeness and Beyond: Portraits from Africa and the World, February 14 - August 12, 1990; additional venue: The Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, September 16 - November 11, 1990
The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Ancient America, long-term loan, 2001-2011
Xochipala solid figures are known for their highly expressive faces and postures made with an acute naturalism. As Gilette Griffin noted, " [...] these splendid portrait figures contain an inner life quite apart from that found in other Mexican ceramic traditions." (Gilett G. Griffin, in Carlo T. E. Gay, ed., Xochipala: The Beginnings of Olmec Art, Princeton, 1972, p. 8).
With fleshy full legs firmly conveying his weight, this figure is in a performative stance. His head is cocked upward, and his body is twisted slightly opposite. The raised right arm shows his missing hand which is a deliberate illustration of his defect which likely implies a connection to the supernatural. The upraised left hand probably held an implement as part of his performance. As typically shown on Xochipala figures, the striated coiffure is of roughened texture.
For similar figures in rhythmic postures, see Carlo T. E. Gay, ed., ibid., fig. 10 and fig. 19.