FIGURINE BABY FACE TYPE FIGURE Olmec culture,... Lot 36

FIGURINE BABY FACE TYPE FIGURE Olmec culture, Tlatilco, Mexico Middle Pre-Classical, 1200-900 B.C. Ceramic with creamy white slip, remains of red pigment H. 24 cm - W. 21.2 cm Olmec Tlatilco seated "Baby Face" figure, buffware ceramic with traces of red pigment, Mexico, H. 9 3/8 in - W. 8 1/4 in Provenance: Private American Collection Acquired by the current owner in 1989 Merrin Gallery, New York Sandy Lindenbaum, New York Merrin Gallery, New York Charles Diker, New York Merrin Gallery, New York Exhibitions: The Art Museum, Princeton University, The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership, December 16, 1995 - February 25, 1996 The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Olmec World - Ritual and Rulership, April 14 - June 9, 1996 Publication: The Olmec World - Ritual and Rulership, The Art Museum, Princeton University, 1995, No. 242 In Central Mexico, and particularly in the Mexico City Valley, pre-Classical farmers suffered the Olmec impact from 1200 B.C. onwards.-C. They often represent hybrid beings that combine human and animal traits. This hollow ceramic represents a naked, chubby baby whose face has avian attributes. The concave part that surrounds the eyes is stretched on the sides and reminds the owl's orbits. The nose narrows and ends in a hooked beak like that of the nocturnal bird of prey. On the top of the head there are two tufts of down.