Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima culture, Protoclassic to Early Classic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A fine red-slipped pottery vessel in the form of a seated hunchback dwarf, an important figure in the ritual and symbolic lexicon of ancient West Mexican shaft tomb cultures. The individual sits with thick but short arms resting on the thighs, the chest pushed forward to emphasize the swollen back - a marker of his hunched form. A spout rises from the back of the head, indicating the vessel's use, likely for ceremonial pouring or funerary offering. Dwarves and hunchbacks in Colima and broader Mesoamerican cosmology were often seen as liminal beings, mediators between the human and supernatural realms. Their bodies were believed to embody spiritual potency, fertility, or healing power. The surface retains a rich red slip burnished to a subtle luster, with areas of darkened patina and mineral deposits consistent with burial conditions. Size: 7.5" W x 8" H (19 cm x 20.3 cm)

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

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#194397

  • Condition: Choice. No disvernable restoration or repairs. Manganese blooms across the surface.

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July 25, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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