156 - - Figure of a chief seated in a solemn pose.

- Figure of a chief seated in a solemn pose. Terracotta with traces of polychrome paint; slightly broken and repaired; minor restoration not exceeding 2 to 5 percent of the work’s total mass. Bahía, Ecuador, 500 BCE – 500 CE 34 x 24 x 18 cm Provenance: acquired by Mr. Martinez at a public auction, Drouot, Paris, in 1970; appraised by Charles Ratton, according to the 2007 inventory. Developed along the Ecuadorian coast, in what is now the province of Manabí, the Bahía culture belongs to the Regional Developments period. Heirs to the Chorrera traditions, these communities combined agriculture, the exploitation of marine resources, and navigation. Their organization into hierarchical societies is reflected in depictions of richly adorned figures. Seated with legs crossed and hands resting on his knees, this figure exudes a calm and dignified presence. The broad shoulders, the firm features, and the symmetrical arrangement of the arms reinforce the stability of the composition. The headdress, large earrings, and pendant underscore the figure’s status, whose contemplative demeanor evokes both ceremonial and social authority. Documentary reference: Santiago Ontaneda-Luciano and Francisco Valdez, Shamans and Deities of Pre-Columbian Ecuador, exhibition catalog, Paris / Arles, Musée du Quai Branly / Actes Sud, 2016, 240 pp. A comprehensive study of the social and religious context of the cultures of the Ecuadorian coast, particularly Bahía.