Jar
Unknown Artist
2nd century BCE–3rd century CE
Medium
Ceramic, pigment
Dimensions
H. 9 1/8 x Diam. 9 1/2 in. (23.2 x 24.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Containers
Culture
Colima
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Accession Number
1979.206.348
Art Historical Context
This elegant ceramic jar hails from the ancient Colima culture of West Mexico, dating to the 2nd century BCE through the 3rd century CE.iving in the region's fertile coastal plains during the Pre-Columbian era, the Colima people were masterful potters whose works reflect a vibrant tradition of craftsmanship. Part of the shaft tomb complex—a burial practice unique to West Mexico—this jar likely served practical purposes like storage or offerings, embodying the everyday artistry of a society skilled in ceramics. Crafted from clay and adorned with pigment, the vessel measures 9 1/8 inches high a...