*Chamane

seated on his throne, his oversized hands hold a figurine positioned in front of his mouth that he scrutinizes with concentration. This scene symbolizes a ritual where the vital breath of the shaman impregnates a figurine intended to fertilize the earth. His deformed skull is covered by a crown with a claw-like protrusion. He wears numerous ornaments indicating his important status in the clan. Terracotta with some remains of polychromy, Jama Coaque, Ecuador, 500 BC - 500 AD 29 x 16 x 16 cm Provenance: acquired from Oscar Ramirez by the current owner in December 1995 In Ecuador the shaman had a social status of first rank. He governed the course of time, the ceremonies, and the rituals associated with them. He held the secrets transmitted by the gods and nature; his people considered him as the representative and intermediary on earth of the divine world. Minor visible damage, broken and glued, and restoration not exceeding 10 to 15% of the overall mass of the work.