Lot 14
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. This group of four Colima pottery figures brings together the region's expressive sculptural traditions, blending both gingerbread-style silhouettes and the flatter, more linear forms common to West Mexican shaft tomb cultures. Each figure stands with its own sense of posture and character, offering a compact survey of Colima figural artistry. The tallest figure wears an elaborate headwrap and necklace, with wide hips and tapering legs that echo the archetypal gingerbread style. Beside it, a broader figure with a crested headdress and boldly angled limbs carries painted geometric markings along the torso, giving the composition a rhythmic visual pulse. A smaller seated figure presents folded arms and a tall, bundled headdress, its rounded modeling contrasting with the angular stance of its companions. The final figure shows the characteristic tubular limbs and stylized pose associated with classic Colima effigies, framed by jewelry and patterned attire. Size of largest: 4.7" W x 8.6" H (11.9 cm x 21.8 cm)
Together, these figures reflect the aesthetic range of Colima workshops, where potters shaped human forms with a balance of abstraction and personality. Such effigies were placed in tombs as attendants, guardians, or representations of community identity, and they provide valuable insight into clothing, ornament, and social roles within ancient West Mexico. This lot of four offers a lively and varied ensemble, unified by their shared cultural origin and by the warmth of their hand-modeled terracotta surfaces. Their presence evokes the vibrant ceremonial world of Colima's ancient artisans.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; largest & smallest: ex-Leonard Auction, Addison, Illinois, USA; white lower: ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010
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#197189
- Condition: One is missing arms. All have repairs; some visible with chipping and adhesive, others hidden by resurfacing. Nicks, chips, and abrasions throughout. Otherwise, good remaining detail and scattered earthen and mineral deposits.
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