Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A mesmerizing redware serpent vessel from the Colima culture, modeled in the dynamic, rounded form of a coiled snake. The vessel's body undulates in a continuous arc, its smooth, burnished surface enlivened by a warm red slip that glows with an earthen vitality. The sculptor's eye for abstraction transforms natural anatomy into fluid geometry - the serpent's head emerging subtly at one end, its tapering snout and incised eyes rendered with quiet precision. A circular spout rises from the creature's back, seamlessly integrated into the composition so that function and form become one. Such vessels were often used in ritual contexts, perhaps for pouring libations or storing sacred liquids, the serpent embodying regeneration, fertility, and the vital energies of the earth. In Colima belief, snakes were potent mediators between realms - earthly, aquatic, and underworld - symbols of cyclical renewal and transformation. Size: 8.8" L x 8" W x 3.8" H (22.4 cm x 20.3 cm x 9.7 cm)

This example exemplifies the balance of grace and restraint that distinguishes Colima ceramic artistry. The burnished sheen, tactile curvature, and subtle play of color together suggest not only the serpent's physical presence but its mythic power, coiled in readiness for perpetual return.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles collection, California, USA; ex-private California, USA collection

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#197639

  • Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over break lines. Light surface wear commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent presentation with good remaining detail and rich earthen deposits to interior. Scattered manganese deposits to exterior.

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October 17, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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