Beautiful and ancient bust, fragment of a statuette probably formerly standing, with a characteristic facial expression and cranial deformation, its ears pierced, marked by an important patina of erosion of its surface. This patina inevitably recalls that of the central figure standing with his back to the six menhirs (and sculpted in granite, unlike the others sculpted in serpentine and jadeite), which is part of the group of sixteen figurines of the famous offering no. 4 from the site of La Venta discovered in 1959, and so often published. Olmec culture, State of Tabasco, Preclassic period 900-400 B.C., Mexico. Stone, visible lacks of the arms and the lower part, important patina of erosion or oxidation of age. H. 9cm Provenance: - Robert Vergnes, Paris, 1966 - Former Manichak and Jean Aurance collection - Millon sale, September 18, 2019, lot 15 - Bernard Hector Collection