Lot 16

2 West Mexican Semi-Nude Male Figures, Colima & Nayarit

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Lot 16
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2 West Mexican Semi-Nude Male Figures, Colima & Nayarit
2 West Mexican Semi-Nude Male Figures, Colima & Nayarit
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2 West Mexican Semi-Nude Male Figures, Colima & Nayarit

Estimate: $450 - $675

Starting Bid: $200

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE; Nayarit, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A vivid pair of West Mexican pottery figures, these semi-nude male forms embody the bold stylization and human immediacy that define the shaft tomb traditions of Colima and Nayarit. Together they create a striking contrast in posture and surface, one upright and open, the other seated and grounded, like two different chapters of the same ancient story told in clay. The Colima figure stands with a confident forward stance, his body modeled in warm buff terracotta speckled with dark inclusions. He wears a carefully rendered loincloth with vertical pleating and a knotted headband or turban-like wrap, with long strands falling beside the face. The features are strongly abstracted, with an elongated nose, applied ears, and a composed expression. A simple necklace encircles the neck, and the arms hang at the sides in a stance that suggests both readiness and calm. Size of larger (Colima): 3.7" W x 6.5" H (9.4 cm x 16.5 cm)

In contrast, the Nayarit figure is seated with legs extended and arms bent outward, its broad shoulders and compact form giving it an almost architectural presence. The surface is darker and more heavily weathered, with mottled red and black pigment surviving across the body. The head rises in a tall crest-like coiffure, and the face is modeled with a prominent nose and open mouth, creating a more animated, expressive character than its Colima counterpart.

Both figures would have been well suited to the interior world of a West Mexican shaft tomb, where ceramic sculpture served as companion, witness, and symbolic substitute for the living. These works do not aim for portraiture in the modern sense, yet they convey identity through gesture, hairstyle, adornment, and stance. As a pair, they offer a compelling glimpse into the sculptural imagination of ancient West Mexico, where everyday bodies, social roles, and stylized presence were transformed into enduring forms meant to accompany the dead into the next world.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-major gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, primarily acquired between 1985 and 2005

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Item # 200434

  • Condition: Fair. Nayarit figure has had head reattached with break line visible; Colima has had proper right arm reattached with restoration over break line. Both have expected surface wear. Good remaining detail with scattered mineral and earthen deposits throughout.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000