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Lot 95: Colima Pottery Seated Dwarf Shaman Vessel

Est: $2,000 USD - $3,000 USDPassed
Artemis Fine ArtsLouisville, CO, USJanuary 17, 2025

Item Overview

Description

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A pottery figure of a person with a severe hunchback and dwarfism. The face is sensitively modeled and largely realistic, with a long, straight nose, a mouth that juts outward slightly, lips parted, and coffee-bean eyes that are characteristic of the Colima. The face has a calm, almost passive expression on it. Bright red details accentuates the arms, lower body, chin, and head; the figure also has a horned headdress, symbolizing his shaman status. Large turtle shell pectoral worn upon his chest. Size: 8" W x 11" H (20.3 cm x 27.9 cm)

Hunchback and dwarf individuals are very common in Colima sculpture - indeed, they heavily outnumber portrayals of women (and some have theorized that this relates to their relatively high social status in the society). Some scholars attribute the hunched back in West Mexican shaft tomb culture to a particular form of tuberculosis; the protruding shoulders and lower spine of this figure may be part of the figure's deformity or the result of an emaciated, shamanic state. Colima, located on Mexico's southwestern coast, was during this time part of the shaft tomb culture, along with neighbors to the north in Jalisco and Nayarit. In this culture, the dead were buried down shafts - 3 to 20 meters deep - that were dug vertically or near vertically through the volcanic tuff that makes up the geology of the region. The base of the shaft would open into one or more horizontal chambers with a low ceiling. These shafts were almost always dug beneath a dwelling, probably a family home, and seem to have been used as family mausoleums, housing the remains of many related individuals. This is a figure made to be placed inside those mausoleums, perhaps to mediate between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Provenance: private R.D. collection, Long Beach, California, USA collection, acquired from the 1980s to 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.

#189585

Condition Report

Right foot reattached at ankle, loss to some of the remaining pigment else quite fine.

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

For shipments of oversize items, Artemis Gallery will assist the buyer in working with a third-party shipping provider. For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country, and this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding.

Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value - no exceptions.

Auction Details

Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art

by
Artemis Fine Arts
January 17, 2025, 08:00 AM MST

686 S Taylor Avenue Suite 108, Louisville, CO, 80027, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

29.0%*

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$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

Terms of Sale

Autopay
If you have not contacted Artemis Gallery to arrange payment within 3 days of the issue date of the invoice, Live Auctioneers will charge the credit card you used to register for the auction for the amount of your invoice. Autopay does not apply to other platforms, but all other terms will apply.
Sales Tax
Online purchases from Artemis Gallery may be subject to sales tax. Please see the following for more details. If you are tax-exempt, you can submit your tax-exempt certificate to prevent the collection of tax. Learn more about tax-exemption.
Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. These terms relate exclusively to online auction bidding via Artemis Gallery and are applicable to all bidders, collectors, and dealers alike. Your submission of auction bids constitutes your acceptance of these "Terms of Sale."
TERMS
All ancient items offered for sale have been legally acquired, are legal to buy, sell, or trade under U.S. law, and are materially and substantially authentic as to the culture and period stated. By bidding in our auctions, the bidder personally guarantees payment. Artemis Gallery has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise. High and low estimates are provided for each lot for reference only. The actual hammer price may be higher or lower based on bidder demand.
LOT ESTIMATES: Each auction lot has a printed, estimated low to high value range. Each lot also has an opening bid which is generally about 1/2 of the low estimate, but this may vary. ESTIMATES are given only as a guide to help gauge your bidding. Lots may sell for a price greater than or less than these estimates. Bids under 50% of the pre-auction estimate may not be accepted.
HOW TO BID: You may see current bid standings and place bids 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online on all auction platforms.
HOW LOTS SELL: No lot will sell while there is still active bidding on the item.
PAYMENT POLICY: To provide a seamless bidder checkout, all winning lots will be invoiced through the applicable auction platform's invoicing system, unless bidder chooses to pay Artemis Gallery directly via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. If the bidder chooses to pay Artemis Gallery directly, bidder must contact Artemis Gallery to arrange payment. Payments not made within 3 business days from date of invoice will forfeit bidder's right to purchase said item(s), with item(s) relisted to next appropriate auction. In addition, non-paying bidders will receive posted negative feedback on the Auction Platform and not be allowed bidding privileges on any future auctions.
SALES TAX: Appropriate sales tax will be withheld from all invoices. Bidders paying gallery directly via check/money order or wire transfer may avoid online platforms' payment processing fees, but online platform's applicable sales tax will not be waived by Artemis Gallery. ALL SALES TAX WILL APPLY UNLESS THE BIDDER HAS PROVIDED ONLINE PLATFORM OR GALLERY WITH TAX EXEMPT DOCUMENTATION.
BUYER'S PREMIUM: A Buyer's Premium equal to 27.5% will be added to the hammer price of each lot.
VAT: If you live outside of the U.S., VAT may be required from the Buyer's home Country. VAT is the sole responsibility of the Buyer and is not included on the invoice.
SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

For shipments of oversize items, Artemis Gallery will assist the buyer in working with a third-party shipping provider. For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country, and this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding.

Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value - no exceptions.

IMPORTANT: Due to customs seizures of antiquities and numerous other shipments/inventory items in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, Artemis Gallery is currently not shipping to those countries. We encourage you to work with your local customs brokerage firm or contact the customs agency in your area for more information. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Cultural items originating from Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian cultures may fall under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and may not be eligible for international shipping and can only be shipped within the United States. Please check first to see if the item you are bidding on is able to be shipped outside the U.S.

For Customer Pickup Orders and Self-Arranged Shipping: Orders arranged for in-gallery pickup must be scheduled with a gallery employee and collected within 5 business days from the date of payment processing. For Self-Arranged Shipping (i.e., pickup from customer's pre-paid, pre-arranged, carrier of choice), gallery must be contacted to inform gallery of self-arranged shipment plans within 10 business days from auction close and order(s) must be collected by third-party carrier within 30 days. After 30 days, storage fee of $20/day will be charged until 90 days has been reached, at which time, property will be deemed abandoned, funds will be refunded or retained as Gallery determines is best course of action, and abandoned lot(s) will be relisted in next available auction.

RETURN POLICY: At Artemis Gallery, our goal is to maintain a customer-centric return policy; however, it is important that you keep in mind deadlines for reporting issues based on the following situations:
a. In the event of an authenticity dispute, written email notification must be provided to Artemis Gallery within 2 business days from receipt of the item as shown by shipping carrier's tracking data. After Artemis Gallery is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented for consideration within 30 days of the initial notification. If Artemis Gallery concludes that the expert's assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including hammer price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit a refund after the item has been returned in the same condition as when shipped.
b. In the event of a materially significant error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within 2 business days from receipt of the item as shown by shipping carrier's tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided, if so requested. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit a refund after the item has been returned in the same condition as when shipped.
c. If a return is requested for any reason other than the above, written notification with reason for return must be given within 2 days from receipt of the item as shown by shipping carriers tracking data for Artemis Gallery to issue a refund to the original payment method. If notification is given after 5 days, the item may be returned for credit toward a future purchase or may be consigned for sale through Artemis Gallery. The item must be returned to Artemis Gallery at the buyer's expense, and original shipping charges will not be refunded. All items to be returned must be adequately insured and must be received by Artemis Gallery in the same condition as when shipped. In no event may any item be returned after 20 days from the date of delivery.

UNSOLD LOTS: Unsold lots may be re-offered after each auction's end on a Buy-it-Now basis at the stated price. All successful after-auction purchases will be at the stated price plus the 27.5% buyer's premium and any applicable shipping charges, sales tax. VAT fees are not included in the final invoice from Artemis Gallery. They are a separate tax and may be charged by the buyer's home country based on local and applicable laws in your country of delivery.
Auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any lot for any reason, prior to the auction closing. Artemis Gallery is not responsible for any typographical errors in the online catalogue. In the event of a system, site or internet failure, Artemis Gallery reserves the right to postpone any closing time and date of any unsold lots. We will execute absentee bids, at the bidder's request, faithfully and to the best of our ability, but we assume no responsibility for errors, deletions, or omissions. Any disputed lot may be re-offered or re-opened for extended bidding, at the auctioneer's discretion.
UNPAID INVOICES: If the auction invoice is not paid for in full when due per invoice terms, including any applicable credit card taxes and processing fees, the unpaid balance will bear interest at the highest rate permitted by law until paid in full. If the matter is referred to an attorney for collection, bidder agrees to pay all reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other collection cost incurred by Artemis Gallery to collect past due invoices and that the services of process by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, shall be sufficient to confer "in personam" jurisdiction over bidder.
Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado, unless contravened by the laws of another jurisdiction.
QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us with questions prior to bidding at [email protected] or call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 10 minutes prior to any auction lot's ending time.

Shipping Terms

SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

For shipments of oversize items, Artemis Gallery will assist the buyer in working with a third-party shipping provider. For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country, and this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding.

Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value - no exceptions.