Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Man - PF.2853,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 10.125" (25.7cm) high x 5.25" (13.3cm) wide,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. Poised in a typical masculine position. This stunning example of Colima artistry served dual purposes. Aside from the aesthetic beauty enjoyed by the people of Ancient Mexico for their sculpted works, this piece had a practical as well as spiritual purpose. The spout at the top of the figure's head suggests that it was used as a vessel to hold offerings for ceremonies or burial. It is not an accident that this figure is shaped like a man waiting patiently. It was commonly believed that the deceased needed to be accompanied into the afterworld. Therefore, many shaft tombs yielded an abundance of ceramic figures, animals and jewelry to make the journey more comfortable and to make offerings to the gods to allow entrance into the next world. We gaze at a legacy of spiritual beliefs and earthly longing for the next world.

Antiquities
Ancient Central America & Mexico