A pale orange terracotta figure of a male lying on a platform or bed, strapped in with a broad strap around the head and a twin strap restraint around his body. He rests his head on a pillow or headrest and is wearing headgear and large ear plugs but is otherwise naked. Unmodelled reverse with old collection number at the base.
Pre-Columbian West Mexico, Colima culture: Circa 100 BC - 250 AD.
Fine condition: complete and intact.
Length 10.6 cms (4.2 ins)
Provenance: Private Nevada collection, ex. Dr. David Harner collection, Arkansas, 1950's - 1960's.
For a comparable figure, see item 95: Sculpture of Ancient West Mexico: Catalogue Of The Proctor Stafford Collection at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
These types are sometimes known as 'muertos' as they may represent a person bound in death perhaps to keep their spirit contained. Colima terracottas are primarily known from grave goods found in shaft tombs, suggesting a deep connection to ritual and the afterlife. These figures were most often placed in shaft tombs as funerary offerings. Their placement in tombs indicates they were meant to accompany the dead, providing companionship, protection, and provisions for their journey to the underworld. While often viewed as ritualistic, some figures also capture scenes of daily life, including people eating, drinking, or engaged in different activities.