Lot 51
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A hollow burnished redware pottery figure representing a standing hunchback, his hands planted firmly on his hips and his spine exaggerated into a pronounced arch along his back. The artist rendered the form with striking simplicity yet remarkable vitality, the powerful torso balanced atop short, sturdy legs and broad feet. His head tilts slightly forward beneath a high, pointed cap, the face modeled with a long nose, open mouth, and heavy-lidded eyes that lend him a contemplative, almost weary expression. Three small tabs project from the posterior, perhaps intended to depict the back of a loincloth, tassels, or ritual ornaments. These distinctive appendages add a sculptural rhythm to the composition while reinforcing the object's ceremonial identity. The burnished reddish-brown surface exhibits rich mottling from ancient firing and burial, emphasizing the warmth and tactility of Colima clay. Size: 6.4" L x 9" W x 13.8" H (16.3 cm x 22.9 cm x 35.1 cm)
Hunchback figures such as this are among the most expressive of the Colima corpus, often interpreted as representations of shamans or individuals endowed with spiritual potency. Within the cosmology of ancient West Mexico, physical difference could signal divine favor or supernatural ability, linking the deformity of the body to heightened perception or power. This figure thus stands as both portrait and symbol - a vessel of vitality, wit, and sacred energy, animated even in repose.
Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection
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#198852
- Condition: Missing one tab on posterior and another has been reattached with adhesive along visible break line. Some chipping to feet and ears as well as restoration to nose. Expected surface wear as shown. Otherwise, very nice presentation with great manganese deposits throughout. Modern adhesive on undersides of feet from previous display.
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