Chinesco Style (Type B) Nayarit Terracotta Sculpture of a Seated Woman

This lovely Nayarit woman, serene and poised, looks as if she is in a state of meditation. Rendered in the "Chinesco" style, she has the attributes often associated with oriental figures-- --a heart--shaped face, pointed nose, and quietly slanted eyes. Her burnished red body has been decorated with painted garments, and her nose adorned with a ring. With her hands fused on her slightly protruding belly, and her pointed breasts emphasized; is it possible that the artist was depicting a young pregnant woman? Placed long ago in an ancient tomb, she may have offered the hope of rebirth in the afterlife. Now centuries later, her serene half-- smile is still intoxicating

Mirror of All Ages and Cultures 58 Brook Street, London W1K 5DT –United Kingdom-Tel: 0044 20 7493 7778-Fax: 0044 20 7493 9593 941 N La Cienega Blvd, California 90096-Tel: 001 310 859 8408 58-4 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea 03053, +821034973413 www.barakatgallery.com barakat@barakatgallery.com Taino Stone Zemi Sculpture -- LO.1321 (LSO) Origin: Dominican Republic Circa: 1200 AD to 1500 AD Dimensions: 12.5" (31.8cm) high Collection: Pre--Columbian Style: Taino Medium: Stone Price: £180,000.00 This outstanding stone sculpture is a Zemi – the physical incarnation of a Taino god, spirit or ancestor. These were used by families and centralized magico--religious institutions on a village scale, in order to “…help women with child…many which speak, and others that make grow the things that they eat, and others that bring rain, and others that make the wind blow” (Arrom 1974: 26). Historical accounts by Columbus, among others, also confirm a fertility role for at least some of the pieces, and they may also have helped relate the Taino’s mainland heritage as a story--telling device. Identifying specific pieces with specific gods or spirits is not always possible; the pantheon of gods is fairly well established (based around Yucahu – the god of cassava, the Taino staple crop – and his mother Antabey, who is responsible for fertility and water) but their physical appearances are generally undefined. Zemis have been found in various parts of the Caribbean, especially Hispaniola and Jamaica.