Colima Pre-Columbian Seated Cross Legged Figure

Sitting cross-legged, a figure rises into a tall, narrow head ornament.

This pre-Columbian seated cross-legged figure is Colima, from West Mexico, Mexico. It is terra cotta. Western Mexican shaft-tomb cultures such as Colima produced many hollow ceramic figures, and scholars generally link them to burial customs, though their exact meaning is debated. Orange-buff and broad-shouldered, the figure has a long ridged nose and a stacked headdress above a slit-eyed face. Hands rest on the knees with incised fingers, the legs are folded below, and a black stand supports the base. It is 2.5 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 4 high.

Posture is perfect, and the stare is firmly fixed.