Terracotta sculpture, Pre-Columbian snake vessel - Colima culture - Mexico

This fully restored terracotta object of Pre-Columbian pottery from the Colima culture, which flourished in western Mexico between 100 BCE and 300 CE during the Proto-classical period. The piece displays the characteristic reddish-brown color typical of Colima pottery, obtained through a specific oxidation process during firing.

Colima pottery with snake motifs such as this two-snake jug likely had a ritual function in ceremonies related to fertility or rain. Collectors of Pre-Columbian art and archaeological institutions value such pieces for their aesthetic qualities and the insights they provide into the religious symbolism and cosmology of the ancient Mesoamerican civilizations.

Comes from a private collection and has been owned since 1974. Provided with an appraisal report by a certified appraiser.