Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A charming pottery vessel in the form of a nude male figure in the transformative moment of a ritual; poised leaning forward with nostrils flared and cheeks flattened as though inhaling, his closed-lipped smile and barely open eyes suggesting the euphoria of intoxication. The figure's prominent arched back and elaborate headdress indicate he is likely a hunchback; hunchbacks held significant status as shamans or spiritual advisors among the Colima and frequently wore powerful caps to signify their rank. The Colima are noted for burying their dead in shaft tombs and creating pottery figures to be placed inside those mausoleums with their loved ones. As shamans acted as mediators between the spiritual and physical worlds, a shaman figure like this example would have been particularly useful to help guide the deceased's transition from the realm of the living to the realm of the dead. Size: 7.8" W x 14.5" H (19.8 cm x 36.8 cm)

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#174844

  • Condition: Small chip to ornament on right side of headdress and stable hairline surface fissure on one side. Expected light nicks and abrasions, as well as areas of fire darkening commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice manganese deposits. Slight wobble to base but still very stable.

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October 20, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
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