Mexico Remojadas Standing Male Smiling Figure w/ Arms Extended Pre-columbian Art For Sale

Stunning and Rare, Standing sonriente (smiling figure).Wearing undecorated loincloth, earspools; both arms outstretched with right arm upward. Laughing face figures have been excavated at Remojadas, Mixtequilla, Papaloapan and smaller sites in the vicinity (Los Cerros and Dicha Tuerta). They are mold-made with some details sharpened or added by fingers or sticks. They were made in at least two sections, front and back, with the joints perfectly smoothed. It is thought that the arms and heads were made in separate molds. The significance of the laughing face is unknown, but scholars have speculated that it represents people intoxicated by pulque or natural psychoactive hallucinogens. The pulque cult of ancient Mexico dates back to the Early Classic period, if not earlier, and was very important to Veracruz in the Late Classic. However, an unpublished lecture at Cal State Los Angeles (2015), noted that they are found in burial urns, suggesting they accompanied and cared for the dead in the afterlife. Laughing face figures can be identified as females wearing skirts or men in knotted short loincloths. Both sexes wear large caps and chest bands. Caps, chest bands and skirts are typically decorated with stepped frets, emblems and glyph-like signs. Arms held upright or stretched out, accompanied by widespread feet, probably represent dance movements. Some figures also clutch rattles in their hands and wear shell anklets that would have added noise to ceremonial dancing during festivals dedicated to pulque deities. Right hand restored, left arm and right leg reattached, necklace pendant restored, otherwise intact, overall exc. cond. Custom lucite base.Provenance:Private NYC collection, acquired by the current collection in 1989, ex. Merrin Gallery, New York. Ex Arte Primitivo. It comes with certificate from Arte Primitivo.
Category:Pre-Columbian ArtSub Category:Mexico - West Coast and Classic Period CulturesCulture or Country:Veracruz, Mexico.Period:Ca. 600-900 A.D.Size:14-3/8” x 10-3/4” x 2-1/2”.