Dr Eli B. Cohen and Aimee Cohen, Los Angeles
Thence by descent
Sotheby's, New York, November 20, 2000, lot 287, consigned by the above
American Private Collection, acquired at the above auction

Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, long term loan, 1979 - 1980

Overall very good condition. Natural variation of surface as shown. Minor crack and fill on proper right thigh.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The San Sebastian style is seen on figures along the Nayarit and Jalisco border; the large male and female couples can be distinguished by their detailed incised coiffure, tattooed designs and deep red slip surfaces. Figures seated on two-legged stools such as this female and the following male figure, are empowered individuals likely to hold leadership positions within their community.

'The enduring legacy of ceramic sculpture is not merely its artistic qualities […] the sculptures serve as a window into the heritage of power that characterized these early societies' (Butterwick, Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico, 2004, p. 35).

For the style and similar seated figures in the Andrall E. Pearson Family Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see ibid., cat. no. 13.