*Sculpture anthropomorphe

depicting a seated figure with his hands on his knees and his legs crossed. He is wearing a long tunic that is tightly wrapped around his chest, with his feet sticking out. The nails on his hands and feet are detailed. His neck is adorned with a tubular collar with a central oblong medallion. The face is triangular. The mouth and eyes are hollowed out and the eyebrow arch is marked. The nose is in relief. A black tar body paint underlines the mouth, from the base of the chin to the base of the nose, going up to the cheekbones. The ears are detailed and detached from the face. They are adorned with tubular earrings. A headband encircles the forehead. Brown hollow clay with traces of tar. Good state of conservation Veracruz - Mexico, 450 - 750 AD 28.3 x 18.9 x 14.3 cm Provenance: - Former Yvon Collet collection since 1968 - Mermoz Gallery, 2004 A thermoluminescence test by the ASA laboratories will be given to the buyer. The Veracruz culture developed on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Classical Period extends between 450 and 750 AD. The ceramics of Veracruz 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. *This lot is presented as a temporary import