Colima Vessel in the Form of a Squatting Hunchback - PF.0562,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 13" (33.0cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Squatting Hunchback - PF.0562,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 13" (33.0cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.0563,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.5" (24.1cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide,Collection:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.0563,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.5" (24.1cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. This poignant and well-executed portrait representation of a hunchback was made at the end of the first millennium BC to the early days of the first millennium AD. The subgroup that manufactured the piece are called the Colima, who are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. However, it is the artworks that are the most informative, as we can see from the current piece.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.0872,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.625" (24.4cm) high,Catalogue: V2,Collection:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.0872,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.625" (24.4cm) high,Catalogue: V2,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.0892,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9" (22.9cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.0892,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9" (22.9cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Sculpture of a Seated Hunchback with Peyote Buttons - PF.1367,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 11.25" (28.6cm) high,Collection:  More »

Colima Sculpture of a Seated Hunchback with Peyote Buttons - PF.1367,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 11.25" (28.6cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.1471,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.625" (24.4cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide,Catalogue:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.1471,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.625" (24.4cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide,Catalogue: V8,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.1477,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high x 7" (17.8cm) wide,Collection:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.1477,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high x 7" (17.8cm) wide,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Female Hunchback - PF.2050,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 ADDimensions: 12.25" (31.1cm) high,Collection:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Female Hunchback - PF.2050,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 ADDimensions: 12.25" (31.1cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.2597,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 10.25" (26.0cm) highCatalogue: V11,Collection:  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Hunchback - PF.2597,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 10.25" (26.0cm) highCatalogue: V11,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. This extraordinary hunchback figure is a stunning example of the unique ceramic artisty that was created by the people living in the western region of Mexico, under the shadow of the 13,000-foot-high volcano 'Colima.' It was here that ancient artists perfected the skill of modeling clay into human forms that project a spirit and energy that is unsurpassed in the ability to captivate our senses. Here we experience a seated hunchback whose dwarfed body is sculpted with incredible dynamism. In Ancient Colima culture, it is believed that hunchbacks and dwarfs were held in extremely high regard, playing a shamanic role in society. They acted as confidants in religious matters and had the ability to invoke the Ancient Colima gods. Moreover, the dwarfs and hunchbacks lived apart from others, with specially appointed members of the community to serve them. Clearly, this hunchback figure represents a venerable member of Colima society, for the energy that radiates form his distinctive form most certainly has the power and intensity of the supreme.   « Less

Colima Figure in the Form of a Hunchback - SP.535,Origin: Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium:  More »

Colima Figure in the Form of a Hunchback - SP.535,Origin: Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta,Condition: Very Fine. The Colima are part of a group of archaeological cultures – known almost purely from their artworks – referred to as the Western Mexico Shaft Tomb (WMST) tradition. There are many distinct groups within this agglomeration, and their relationships are almost totally obscure due to the lack of contextual information. All of the cultures encompassed under the WMST nomenclature were in the habit of burying their dead in socially-stratified burial chambers at the base of deep shafts, which were in turn often topped by buildings. Originally believed to be influenced by the Tarascan people, who were contemporaries of the Aztecs, thermoluminescence has pushed back the dates of these groups over 1000 years. Although the apogee of this tradition was reached in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BC, it has its origins over 1000 years earlier at sites such as Huitzilapa and Teuchitlan, in the Jalisco region. Little is known of the cultures themselves, although preliminary data seems to suggest that they were sedentary agriculturists with social systems not dissimilar to chiefdoms. These cultures are especially interesting to students of Mesoamerican history as they seem to have been to a large extent outside the ebb and flow of more aggressive cultures – such as the Toltecs, Olmecs and Maya – in the same vicinity. Thus insulated from the perils of urbanization, they developed very much in isolation, and it behooves us to learn what we can from what they have left behind.   « Less