*Sculpture anthropomorphe

representing a seated figure, legs crossed. The figure has his hands resting on his knees. The fingers and nails of the hands and feet are clearly drawn. He is dressed in a loincloth that reaches below his chest. The mouth is surrounded by black body paint. It is half-open and reveals sharp teeth. The nose is aquiline and the nostrils are also covered with black paint. The eyes are hollowed out in the shape of an almond and the pupils are painted black. The ears are pierced and decorated with a tubular element. The face is surrounded by a strap that holds the headdress. The headdress is topped with a feather fan and surrounded by two snake-head motifs that frame the figure's face. He is wearing a necklace with a pendant made of three pearls. Beige brown hollow clay with traces of tar. The tops of the arms are broken and glued. One leg is broken and glued, small filling on the back joint of the arm, 2 feathers of the crown restored on 2-3 cm. Veracruz - Mexico, 450 - 750 AD 38.1 x 27.8 x 19.6 cm Provenance: - Former Yvon Collet collection since 1968 - Mermoz Gallery, 2003 A thermoluminescence test from the QED laboratory 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