Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima culture, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A fabulous burnished redware vessel depicting a male acrobat arching in a backbend position, his arms and legs forming the legs of the piece, a flared rim emerging from his abdominal area, his head donning a helmet-like covering, with pierced ears that were once adorned with ornaments, and his visage presenting a closed eye expression of immense concentration or an entranced state. The piece boasts a substantial scale and nice burnishing. Given the contortionist's spectacular physical abilities, and his tranquil expression conveyed by closed coffee bean shaped eyes, he may represent a shaman undergoing a transformation. Size: 13.875" W x 8" H (35.2 cm x 20.3 cm)

Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private J. G. collection, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, acquired before 1975

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#139732

Minute nicks to edges of feet and minor surface wear. Areas of manganese deposits. Nice lustrous finish with burnishing marks.