Michoacan Pottery Pretty Lady Figures, Pair of Standing Nude Females

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Michoacan. A pair of hand-modeled pottery "Pretty Lady" figures, each a standing nude female with her arms bent at the elbows and her hands resting on her chest. Their only clothing is jewelry: appliqued bracelets, collar necklaces, and round ear ornaments, with the smaller figure's ear spool pierced right through. Each wears a tall layered headdress, and red pigment still clings to it in incised bands. The faces have the familiar Michoacan look, with heavy-lidded applied eyes, a pinched nose, and a full, pouting mouth. Below a wide flare of hips, the genitalia are clearly marked, and the legs end in feet with incised toes. Figures like these, which stress female fertility and personal adornment, were probably part of household or burial customs, though how exactly they were used is still debated. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 205791

Estimate:£225.46

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