AN OLMEC SEATED FIGURE

LAS BOCAS, MIDDLE PRECLASSIC, CA. 1150-550 B.C.

細節

AN OLMEC SEATED FIGURE
Las Bocas, Middle Preclassic, ca. 1150-550 B.C.
In the classic posture, with elongated fingers resting on ankles, the youthful body carefully modeled with soft belly and broad shoulders, the head tilted slightly backward with prototypical full cheeks, narrow eyes with pupils indicated and fleshy downturned mouth, wearing a close fitting cap incised with a bipartite design of a stylised 'flame brow', painted overall in creamy kaolin with decorative details in rich red and dark brown.
Height 11 3/4 in. (30 cm.)

來源

Edward Merrin Gallery, 1970s.

拍品專文

Cf. Jaguar's Children, pl. 185 for the general type.

The hollow 'baby figures' are some of the most intriguing objects of the Olmec civilization. Barely clad, their frequently ornamented headdresses might indicate the status of the elite wearers. There is a suggestion that these ceramic sculptures were surrogates for living individuals and might have been carried in ritual ceremonies or rested in the laps of larger statues.