Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.8010dc,Origin: Colima- Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The  More »

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.8010dc,Origin: Colima- Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,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.8012dc,Origin: Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta.

Colima Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - PF.8012dc,Origin: Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Coima Terracotta Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - DC.8015,Origin: Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The  More »

Coima Terracotta Vessel in the Form of a Seated Hunchback - DC.8015,Origin: Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,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 Hunchback Vessel - DB.026 (LSO),Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 11.75" (29.8cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium:  More »

Colima Hunchback Vessel - DB.026 (LSO),Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 11.75" (29.8cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium: Terra Cotta,Condition: Very Fine. 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. The vessel would seem to be somewhat impractical, for although it was doubtless able to hold liquids (probably maize beer) it is likely to have had another function, probably votive, funerary or ritual. Its most valuable aspect, however, is in what it represents. The body of the vessel is a seated male adult, his hands on his knees, and with what appears to be a disproportionately short body for the size of his head. His face is oddly formed; it seems intentionally deformed, with a notable depression in the midsection, making the base of his nose project notably, and his bared teeth seem all the more prominent. The forehead is very prognathic, the face comparatively dished. He is seemingly nude, except for armbands around each bicep. His limbs are somewhat nugatory, their detail minimised in order to attract attention to the powerful yet shrunken body. The reason for this apparent compression becomes apparent when it is viewed from the side or back; he has a massive thoracic/lumbar kyphosis that has reduced his trunk height by roughly a third.   « Less

Colima Hunchback Vessel - DB.027 (LSO),Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.75" (24.8cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium:  More »

Colima Hunchback Vessel - DB.027 (LSO),Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 9.75" (24.8cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian Art,Style: Colima,Medium: Terra Cotta,Condition: Very Fine. 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 Janiform Incensario - PF.0602,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 900 AD to 1400 ADDimensions: 10.5" (26.7cm) high x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide,Catalogue: V2,Collection:  More »

Colima Janiform Incensario - PF.0602,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 900 AD to 1400 ADDimensions: 10.5" (26.7cm) high x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide,Catalogue: V2,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Colima Double-Headed Effigy Incense Burner - PF.0700,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 17.5" (44.5cm) high,Catalogue: V2,Collection:  More »

Colima Double-Headed Effigy Incense Burner - PF.0700,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 17.5" (44.5cm) high,Catalogue: V2,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. Dual images of the rain deity Tlaloc stand back to back on this fascinating censer, his two heads enclosing the offering bowl. A pair of entwined serpents (perhaps representing the earth) slither through the headdress of the forward god. The gifts burned in this rutual object were meant to guarantee the rain necessary for survival. An air of potent mystery still pervades it, as if at any moment the sky might cloud over and the torrents begin.   « Less

Colima Janiform Incensario - PF.0720,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 900 AD to 1400 AD,Dimensions: 8.375" (21.3cm) high x 6" (15.2cm) wide,Catalogue: V2,Collection:  More »

Colima Janiform Incensario - PF.0720,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 900 AD to 1400 AD,Dimensions: 8.375" (21.3cm) high x 6" (15.2cm) wide,Catalogue: V2,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. Blackened remains of the incense that was burned in this brazier still cling to the bowl. A double image of the god whose benediction was sought, probably the rain deity Tlaloc, decorates the outside. Pairs of earth serpents slither sinuously out of the god's headdress and peer into the bowl as if to inhale the fragrant smoke. The offerings made in this incensario were meant to guarantee the harmony of nature, the continued favor of the god. One is tempted to throw something in just to see what would happen.   « Less

Colima Tripod Incensario Depicting Tlaloc - PF.1372,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high x 6.875" (17.5cm) wide,Collection:  More »

Colima Tripod Incensario Depicting Tlaloc - PF.1372,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high x 6.875" (17.5cm) wide,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. The God portrayed on this incense burner is Tlaloc, the rain deity whose blessings were essential to the survival of the crops. His limbs are rendered with abstract economy to give balance to the base. He holds one hand to his large nose, as if to suggest that the smoke from the offering will reach him. His elaborate feathered headdress forms the bowl of the burner, which shows evidence of charring. In the presence of such a vessel, we feel the lingering hopes and dreams of a vanished world.   « Less

Colima Incense Burner - PF.1430,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 13.75" (34.9cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta.  More »

Colima Incense Burner - PF.1430,Origin: Western Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 13.75" (34.9cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Colima,Medium: Terracotta. Even in a world that has outgrown superstition, the potent magic of this brazier is immediately evident. Centuries ago, the people of ancient Mexico burned incense in it to win the favor of their gods. As the smoke rose heavenward through the holes, it carried with it the hopes and desires of ancient lives. Its symbols are those of primal deities, the snake and the jaguar, whose worship is older than memory. In its presence, we are reminded of questions that progress has failed to answer about man’s place in the universe. There are still forces over which we have no control, and things we cannot explain. This powerful incensario brings us face to face with those eternal questions.   « Less