Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, Protoclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A hand-built pottery vessel in the form of a seated ithyphallic figure. Highly burnished and covered in red and light orange slip, the figure presents in a seated pose with splayed legs while holding one arm behind his head and the other to the side of his enormous phallus. He wears a set of red trousers indicated by incised lines around the waist and both knees, a thick bangle around each bicep, and a peaked helmet with lengthy ear flaps and a spout on the verso. His expressive visage is formed with a pair of coffee-bean-shaped eyes beneath a bulging forehead, a petite nose, and an incised, toothy mouth. A rare and expressive figural effigy from ancient West Mexico! Size: 7.6" L x 7.8" W x 8.9" H (19.3 cm x 19.8 cm x 22.6 cm)

The sculptural creations of the ancient Colima peoples are quite distinctive with smooth, rounded forms presenting remarkable consistency in their warm russet, citrine, and red hues. In addition, the sculpture of the Colima culture is known for a wide range of postures and expressions, making it quite intriguing to us, even some 2000 years after their origination.

This example, however, deviates from this structured presentation by imbuing the figure with a sense of movement. Typical Colima statues are rigid, static, and presented with relatively expressionless faces. This figure exhibits a relaxed composure as well as a prideful, almost gloating expression on his face as he presents his phallus for others to see. The smile incised across his face gives him a sense of personality and dynamism not often seen in traditional Colima sculpture, so this is a rather significant, substantive, and exceedingly rare example.

Colima, located on Mexico's southwestern coast, was during this time part of the shaft tomb culture, along with neighbors to the north in Jalisco and Nayarit. In this culture, the dead were buried down shafts - 3 to 20 meters deep - that were dug vertically or near vertically through the volcanic tuff that makes up the geology of the region. The base of the shaft would open into one or more horizontal chambers with a low ceiling. These shafts were almost always dug beneath a dwelling, probably a family home, and scholars believe they were used as family mausoleums, housing the remains of many related individuals. This is a figure made to be placed inside those mausoleums, perhaps to mediate between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Provenance: private Dodge collection, Superior, Colorado, USA, acquired in San Diego, California, USA around 2014; ex-private California, USA collection formed before 2000

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#170591

Repaired with restoration along proper left side of chest and around phallus, with resurfacing and overpainting to new material and break lines that do not detract from the overall presentation. Light abrasions and softening to some finer details commensurate with age, with light encrustations within some recessed areas, and fading to pigment on head and body. Great preservation to overall form, and wonderful root marks throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.