Mid-20th Century Mesoamerican Zapotec Style Terracotta Effigy Vessel, 1950s

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A striking mid-to-late 20th-century terracotta effigy vessel, hand-built in the traditional revival style of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican ceramics. This piece heavily … Read more A striking mid-to-late 20th-century terracotta effigy vessel, hand-built in the traditional revival style of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican ceramics. This piece heavily references the iconic Classic period Zapotec funerary urns and Maya incensario traditions of ancient Oaxaca and the surrounding regions.

The sculpture is modeled as a seated deity or high-ranking figure, richly adorned with ceremonial regalia. It features an intricate, tiered headdress flanked by wide, wing-like side panels extending from the shoulders, alongside large traditional ear ornaments. The figure’s face is rendered with deep-set eyes, a pierced nose, and a solemn, forward-facing expression typical of ancestral Zapotec deity portraiture. The arms are held close to the torso, with one hand resting against a spiked element, likely symbolizing a ceremonial object, shell, or agricultural motif. The functional vessel opening sits atop the headdress, hollowed to a visible depth.

Given its lack of early archaeological documentation, this piece is cataloged as a high-quality decorative work made in the pre-Columbian revival style during the mid-to-late 20th century. It serves as an exceptional sculptural accent for curation within brutalist, mid-century modern, or eclectic interior design See less