*Sculpture anthropomorphe

representing a seated woman with her legs crossed. Her hands are resting on her knees. The nails of the hands and feet are marked. The open mouth is hollowed out revealing the upper teeth painted in black. The nose is straight. The almond-shaped eyes are hollowed out and the pupils are painted. The eyebrows are arched. The ears are prominent and adorned with tubular curls. She is wearing a skirt that goes up to her bare chest. Her bust is decorated with black body paint in a cross pattern. She is wearing a necklace adorned with a bar-shaped pendant with a central ring. Hollow terracotta, pinkish-brown cream with traces of red color and black bituminous material Veracruz - Mexico, 600 - 900 AD 30 x 21 x 16.2 cm Good condition, head broken and glued The Veracruz culture developed on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The Classical Period extends between 450 and 750 AD. Veracruz ceramics are distinguished by their outstanding quality and the beautiful representations of human figures. Enigmatic and beautiful, these sculptures often seem to be linked to a particular rite. In the Veracruz period, black body paints were ritually applied to the terracotta to symbolize a fertilization rite associated with the regeneration of the corn grain. Provenance: - Former Yvon Collet collection since 1968 - Mermoz Gallery, 2002 A thermoluminescence test from the Ralf Kotalla laboratory will be given to the buyer *This lot is presented in temporary importation