Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, Comala style, ca. 300 BCE to 200 CE. A precious pottery vessel in parrot form with wings crossed and an upward-sweeping tail that functions as a spout. Standing in a naturalistic pose atop broad feet, the bird presents a puffed chest as it projects its head forward to boast raised, target-motif eyes, a prominent front, and a large, curved beak held open to expose a protruding tongue. Among the remarkably graceful vessels once originally buried in the shaft tombs for which West Mexico is known, representations of animals are some of the most charming. This very realistic effigy of a parrot is a magnificent example of the mastery West Mexican sculptors attained in portraying the fauna with which they came in contact. Size: 8.6" L x 3.9" W x 5.5" H (21.8 cm x 9.9 cm x 14 cm)

In ancient American societies, birds were powerful symbols that represented the realm of the sky. In West Mexico tradition, parrots were especially important as they represented fire and the sun due to their brightly colored feathers.

Cf. North Carolina Museum of Art (90.6), National Museum of the American Indian (22/5718), Indiana Museum of Art at Newfields (1993.61), Gilcrease Museum (54.8183), and Detroit Institute of Arts (F1990.30).

Provenance: ex-private Estate collection, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, acquired 1960 to 2024

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#185546

Professionally repaired with some repainting and resurfacing over break lines; all expertly done and very difficult to notice. Some light abrasions to surface, but otherwise excellent presentation with great pigments and lustrous burnish. Earthen deposits to interior and old collection label on underside of left foot.