Colima Terracotta Female Figure with Headdress and Body Paint | Ancient Mexico | Detailed Provenance | Circa 300 BCE–300 CE

$2,500.00
$2,500.00
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Ancient Colima terracotta female figure from West Mexico with black painted decoration and elaborate headdress.
Ancient Colima terracotta female figure from West Mexico, dating to circa 300 BCE–300 CE, featuring black pigment decoration, an elaborate headdress, applied jewelry details, and mounted on a custom display stand. The video concludes with original 1985 Harmer Rooke Galleries provenance documentation and period collection photographs.
Pre-Columbian Colima female pottery figure featuring applied jewelry, black pigment motifs, and a custom display stand.
Ancient West Mexican Colima terracotta figure depicting a standing female with stylized facial features and ceremonial ornamentation.
Colima Culture terracotta female sculpture dating to circa 300 BCE–300 CE with preserved black geometric decoration.
Authentic Pre-Columbian Colima female figure from the shaft-tomb tradition with ear ornaments and applied bead necklace.
Ancient Colima ceramic female figure with stylized proportions, black painted body decoration, and mineral encrustation.
Pre-Columbian West Mexican terracotta female figure representing the distinctive Colima gingerbread sculptural tradition.
Ancient Colima standing female figure with elaborate headdress, applied decorative details, and archaeological patina.
Original 1985 Harmer Rooke Galleries provenance letter documenting the Colima terracotta female figure, signed by Director Charles G. Moore.
Period provenance photograph accompanying the ancient Colima terracotta female figure from the Harmer Rooke Galleries archive.
  • Ancient Colima terracotta female figure from West Mexico with black painted decoration and elaborate headdress.
  • Ancient Colima terracotta female figure from West Mexico, dating to circa 300 BCE–300 CE, featuring black pigment decoration, an elaborate headdress, applied jewelry details, and mounted on a custom display stand. The video concludes with original 1985 Harmer Rooke Galleries provenance documentation and period collection photographs.
  • Pre-Columbian Colima female pottery figure featuring applied jewelry, black pigment motifs, and a custom display stand.
  • Ancient West Mexican Colima terracotta figure depicting a standing female with stylized facial features and ceremonial ornamentation.
  • Colima Culture terracotta female sculpture dating to circa 300 BCE–300 CE with preserved black geometric decoration.
  • Authentic Pre-Columbian Colima female figure from the shaft-tomb tradition with ear ornaments and applied bead necklace.
  • Ancient Colima ceramic female figure with stylized proportions, black painted body decoration, and mineral encrustation.
  • Pre-Columbian West Mexican terracotta female figure representing the distinctive Colima gingerbread sculptural tradition.
  • Ancient Colima standing female figure with elaborate headdress, applied decorative details, and archaeological patina.
  • Original 1985 Harmer Rooke Galleries provenance letter documenting the Colima terracotta female figure, signed by Director Charles G. Moore.
  • Period provenance photograph accompanying the ancient Colima terracotta female figure from the Harmer Rooke Galleries archive.
Ancient Colima terracotta female figure from West Mexico with black painted decoration and elaborate headdress.
Ancient Colima terracotta female figure from West Mexico, dating to circa 300 BCE–300 CE, featuring black pigment decoration, an elaborate headdress, applied jewelry details, and mounted on a custom display stand. The video concludes with original 1985 Harmer Rooke Galleries provenance documentation and period collection photographs.
Pre-Columbian Colima female pottery figure featuring applied jewelry, black pigment motifs, and a custom display stand.
Ancient West Mexican Colima terracotta figure depicting a standing female with stylized facial features and ceremonial ornamentation.
Colima Culture terracotta female sculpture dating to circa 300 BCE–300 CE with preserved black geometric decoration.
Authentic Pre-Columbian Colima female figure from the shaft-tomb tradition with ear ornaments and applied bead necklace.
Ancient Colima ceramic female figure with stylized proportions, black painted body decoration, and mineral encrustation.
Pre-Columbian West Mexican terracotta female figure representing the distinctive Colima gingerbread sculptural tradition.
Ancient Colima standing female figure with elaborate headdress, applied decorative details, and archaeological patina.
Original 1985 Harmer Rooke Galleries provenance letter documenting the Colima terracotta female figure, signed by Director Charles G. Moore.
Period provenance photograph accompanying the ancient Colima terracotta female figure from the Harmer Rooke Galleries archive.
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Colima Terracotta Female Figure with Headdress and Body Paint | Ancient Mexico | Detailed Provenance | Circa 300 BCE–300 CE

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Colima Culture, West Mexico
Material: Hand-modeled terracotta with black pigment decoration
Period: Late Pre-Classic to Early Classic Period, circa 300 BCE–300 CE

Description

This ancient Colima terracotta female figure belongs to a distinctive group of West Mexican ceramic sculptures commonly referred to by collectors and scholars as "gingerbread figures" due to their broad, flattened bodies and stylized proportions. Created during the flourishing shaft-tomb tradition of Colima, these figures served as funerary offerings and likely represented ancestors, elite individuals, fertility figures, or participants in ceremonial life.

The figure stands upright with broad shoulders, a slender neck, and elongated legs. Her face is rendered in the characteristic Colima manner with almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, and pursed lips. She wears an elaborate headdress, pendant ear ornaments, and a necklace adorned with applied spherical beads. Additional raised appliqué elements decorate the shoulders, suggesting jewelry, scarification, or ceremonial body ornamentation.

Particularly notable are the surviving black-painted geometric motifs covering the lower torso and legs. Such painted decoration is frequently associated with ritual body painting, textile patterns, or status markers represented in Colima figural art. The figure displays attractive earthen surfaces with visible mineral deposits and age-related wear consistent with its antiquity.

Examples of Colima gingerbread figures are represented in major museum collections and are considered among the most recognizable sculptural forms produced by the ancient peoples of West Mexico.

Condition

Good ancient condition overall. Surface wear, mineral encrustation, firing imperfections, pigment loss, and age-related weathering throughout. Old restoration and stabilization visible around the neck area. Arms remain partially preserved with expected losses and wear consistent with burial and age. Mounted on a custom display stand.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 9 in

Age (Approximate)

1,700–2,300 years old

Provenance

Harmer Rooke Galleries, New York, December 5, 1985. Accompanied by the original signed gallery correspondence from Charles G. Moore, Director of Harmer Rooke Galleries, identifying the figure as a "Large Standing Female Figure – Colima, ca. 300 AD," together with the original gallery photograph of the piece. The letter was addressed to Mrs. M. McMillan of St. Paul, Minnesota, documenting the figure's offering through the gallery in 1985.

Thereafter held in the private collection of Mrs. M. McMillan, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, for several decades before acquisition by the current owner. The figure remains accompanied by its original gallery documentation and period collection photograph.

Learn More

Learn about the history and cultural legacy of the Colima civilization through Colima

Explore Our Collection of Ancient Pre-Columbian Artifacts

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Colima Culture, West Mexico
Material: Hand-modeled terracotta with black pigment decoration
Period: Late Pre-Classic to Early Classic Period, circa 300 BCE–300 CE

Description

This ancient Colima terracotta female figure belongs to a distinctive group of West Mexican ceramic sculptures commonly referred to by collectors and scholars as "gingerbread figures" due to their broad, flattened bodies and stylized proportions. Created during the flourishing shaft-tomb tradition of Colima, these figures served as funerary offerings and likely represented ancestors, elite individuals, fertility figures, or participants in ceremonial life.

The figure stands upright with broad shoulders, a slender neck, and elongated legs. Her face is rendered in the characteristic Colima manner with almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, and pursed lips. She wears an elaborate headdress, pendant ear ornaments, and a necklace adorned with applied spherical beads. Additional raised appliqué elements decorate the shoulders, suggesting jewelry, scarification, or ceremonial body ornamentation.

Particularly notable are the surviving black-painted geometric motifs covering the lower torso and legs. Such painted decoration is frequently associated with ritual body painting, textile patterns, or status markers represented in Colima figural art. The figure displays attractive earthen surfaces with visible mineral deposits and age-related wear consistent with its antiquity.

Examples of Colima gingerbread figures are represented in major museum collections and are considered among the most recognizable sculptural forms produced by the ancient peoples of West Mexico.

Condition

Good ancient condition overall. Surface wear, mineral encrustation, firing imperfections, pigment loss, and age-related weathering throughout. Old restoration and stabilization visible around the neck area. Arms remain partially preserved with expected losses and wear consistent with burial and age. Mounted on a custom display stand.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 9 in

Age (Approximate)

1,700–2,300 years old

Provenance

Harmer Rooke Galleries, New York, December 5, 1985. Accompanied by the original signed gallery correspondence from Charles G. Moore, Director of Harmer Rooke Galleries, identifying the figure as a "Large Standing Female Figure – Colima, ca. 300 AD," together with the original gallery photograph of the piece. The letter was addressed to Mrs. M. McMillan of St. Paul, Minnesota, documenting the figure's offering through the gallery in 1985.

Thereafter held in the private collection of Mrs. M. McMillan, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, for several decades before acquisition by the current owner. The figure remains accompanied by its original gallery documentation and period collection photograph.

Learn More

Learn about the history and cultural legacy of the Colima civilization through Colima

Explore Our Collection of Ancient Pre-Columbian Artifacts

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