West Mexico, Colima
100 BC to 250 AD
Ceramic
Height: 14¼ in
Provenance: Private collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico; California trade prior to 1970
This Colima effigy vessel depicts a seated hunchback figure, a recognized subject within the Colima tradition believed to represent an individual regarded as possessing magical or shamanic powers. Such figures were understood to live apart from the rest of society and to be cared for by attendants, their physical difference associated with a special, liminal status. The pronounced spinal curvature, seated posture with one arm raised to the shoulder, and trance like facial expression are all consistent with this figure type.
Red slip was applied after the vessel had air dried, then burnished by hand with a soft stone over an extended period before firing, producing the rich, glossy surface characteristic of the finest Colima ceramics. The pronounced nose, thin lips, and heavy lidded eyes reflect the naturalistic facial modeling typical of the tradition, while the figure's adornment and asymmetrical posture add to its individualized presence. Root marks across the surface, the result of centuries of burial, further attest to the vessel's age and undisturbed archaeological context.
The Santa Fe provenance, with an origin in the California trade prior to 1970, places this piece within the pre-restriction era of collecting for West Mexican material. The vessel survives intact, with its sculptural details and surface treatment well preserved. Its scale, subject matter, and condition place it among the more distinctive examples of Colima figural ceramics.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
West Mexico, Colima
100 BC to 250 AD
Ceramic
Height: 14¼ in
Provenance: Private collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico; California trade prior to 1970
This Colima effigy vessel depicts a seated hunchback figure, a recognized subject within the Colima tradition believed to represent an individual regarded as possessing magical or shamanic powers. Such figures were understood to live apart from the rest of society and to be cared for by attendants, their physical difference associated with a special, liminal status. The pronounced spinal curvature, seated posture with one arm raised to the shoulder, and trance like facial expression are all consistent with this figure type.
Red slip was applied after the vessel had air dried, then burnished by hand with a soft stone over an extended period before firing, producing the rich, glossy surface characteristic of the finest Colima ceramics. The pronounced nose, thin lips, and heavy lidded eyes reflect the naturalistic facial modeling typical of the tradition, while the figure's adornment and asymmetrical posture add to its individualized presence. Root marks across the surface, the result of centuries of burial, further attest to the vessel's age and undisturbed archaeological context.
The Santa Fe provenance, with an origin in the California trade prior to 1970, places this piece within the pre-restriction era of collecting for West Mexican material. The vessel survives intact, with its sculptural details and surface treatment well preserved. Its scale, subject matter, and condition place it among the more distinctive examples of Colima figural ceramics.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
