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Veracruz Ceramic Standing Figure Grasping Pole

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:875.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Veracruz Ceramic Standing Figure Grasping Pole
<B>Standing Figure Who Grasps a Pole and Has an Elaborate Removable Headdress</B></I><BR>Veracruz, central area (?)<BR>A.D. 300 - 700<BR>Buff ceramic<BR>Height 10 3/8 in. Width 3 15/16 in.<BR><BR>The figure stands grasping with both hands a pole which abuts the toes of his right foot and slopes slightly outward from the vertical. The head is enlarged and squared off at top to provide support for the removable headdress. His mouth has an everted upper lip which reveals filed upper teeth, which form a T-shape. Large leaf-shaped tabs attached at each ear lobe probably represent some flexible material. A scarf is around the man's neck, knotted almost like a neck tie to give a large tab which covers the chest. At the abdomen two large knotted units are placed one above the other from which two fringed tabs fall to the knees. A kilt completes the figure's dress. The large horizontally-oriented center band of the kilt has a low relief representation of a Tajín-derived profile serpent head facing toward the proper right. In the upper right corner of this band the Maya Venus sign appears.The elaborate removable headdress has an overall shape reminiscent of a shako, complete with chin strap. As visible from the front, a broad, flat-looped piece rises vertically at rear center. Below this, five horizontal bands form the headdress proper. Each is composed of center and side-termination puffs (probably cotton but possibly downy feathers) between which are placed elaborate knots. Three pairs of punched holes near the bottom would have allowed the headdress to be tied firmly to the main figure. The overall condition is good, with scattered surface mineral deposits. Various breaks have been repaired, with more of these in the headdress, on which the lowest rear horizontal band at the proper left is a modern replacement.<BR><BR>Provenance<BR>Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco: sale 7477E, 8 December 2003,