Pre-Classical Period, 12th-2nd century BC. A jade figure modelled as a contortionist or acrobat, with forearms resting on the ground, vertical body and knees bent so that the feet rest on a cylindrical object placed on the head. See Instituto Geologico de M?xico, Catalogo Geográfico de las especies minerales de M?xico, Boletin 41, M?xico, 1923; Westheim, P., The sculpture of Ancient Mexico, New York, 1963; Westheim, P., El Arte antiguo de Mexico, Mexico, 1970; Gribay Kintana A.M., Teogonía e Historia de los Mexicanos, Sepan Cuantos, Mexico, 1965; Palacios, M. L., La cultura Olmeca, Istituto Indigenista Interamericano, Mexico, 1965; Mirambell, L.E.,Tecnicas Lapidarias Prehispanica, M?xico, 1968; Wise, T., The Conquistadores, London, 1980; Ward, F., Jade Gem, EUA, 1996; Ridinger, M.L., ‘El Jade’ in Arqueologia Mexicana vol. V, No 27 Septiembre-Octubre, pp. 52-59, M?xico, 1997; Guilhem, O., ‘Los Animales en el mundo prehispanico’ in Arqueologia Mexicana vol.VI n.35, Enero-Febrero, pp.4-15, Mexico, 1999; Mirambell, L.E., ‘Materiales Arqueologicos y material prima’, in Serie Arqueologia INAH, M?xico, 2005; Langenscheidt, A.,‘Los Abrasivos en Mesoam?rica’, in Arqueologia Mexicana vol. XIV, No 80 Julio-Agosto, M?xico, 2006, pp.55-60.455 grams, 12.5cm (5"). Property of an Italian collector living in Torino; part of her family's collection since 1965; by descent from her grandmother in 1993; accompanied by a copy of the Italian export permit and a signed academic report by Emilio J. Bejarano Erosa (Director of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico, 1968-1982); also accompanied by a scholarly note TL5351 by Dr Ronald Bonewitz; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10283-168431. The figurine is a representation of a contortionist or an acrobat, with typically Olmec features. Although these figures are not abundant in Olmec culture, there are parallels to be found in Olmec stone sculptures.