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Ocarina with noblewoman in huipil
Terracotta with remains of…
See original version (French)
55
-
Ocarina with noblewoman in huipil
Terracotta with remains of…
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,500 - €2,500
Voluntary lot
Description
Ocarina with noblewoman in huipil
Terracotta with remains of polychromy, one arm missing, marks of time.
Island of Jaina, State of Campeche, Mexico, AD 550 - 900
16 × 8.5 cm
Provenance: Estate of Mr S., Geneva, constituted between 1970 and 1980. Objects imported into France before the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of 17 April 2019, applicable from 28 June 2025.
Anthropomorphic ocarinas from the island of Jaina are among the finest examples of Maya ceramics. Intended to accompany the deceased or used in ceremonies, they almost exclusively represent figures of high rank, and their finely modelled forms reflect the attention paid to social hierarchies and prestige in the classical Maya world. This one stands out for the quality of its expression: the inward-looking face, the crossed turban, the ovoid pearl necklace and the carefully rendered huipil make up a portrait of great nobility, where the attention to ornamental detail reveals the hand of a first-rate craftsman.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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