Coclé Ceramic Anthromorphic Vessel

A face on the neck, hands to the cheeks, and an expression of mild alarm.

This anthropomorphic vessel comes from ancient Panama and dates to 700 – 1100 CE. It is painted pottery. Painted vessels like this are best known from burials in Panama, where they seem to have accompanied high-ranking dead, and they may also have served food and drink at feasts. A calm face with narrow eyes and small ears sits on the neck. Two modeled arms rise from the shoulders so that the hands touch the jaw. Cream, red and brown stepped spirals fill the front panel of the red body. Eleven inches high and 8.5 wide.

A thousand years is a long time to hold that pose.