Seated Figure Drinking from a Vessel using a Tube
200 BCE–300 CE
Medium
Earthenware and pigment
Dimensions
30.8 × 13.5 × 16.5 cm (12 3/16 × 5 3/8 × 6 1/2 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148345
Art Historical Context
Created by skilled artisans of the Colima culture in western Mexico, this engaging earthenware sculpture dates from 200 BCE to 300 CE. It shows a seated figure drinking from a vessel through a tube, capturing a lively moment of activity. Fashioned from clay with traces of pigment, the work measures just over 12 inches in height and reflects the distinctive ceramic style of the region. Colima artists were known for hollow ceramic figures that vividly portrayed people, animals, and scenes from daily or ceremonial life. These sculptures, often placed in shaft tombs as offerings, offer glimpses i...