151 - - Seated shaman

- Seated shaman holding a monumental vessel Coffee-red and brown terra cotta, very slightly broken-glued, marks of time Colima, western Mexico, c. AD 120 - 250 31 x 28 x 22 cm Provenance: acquired by Mr. Martinez from the former Arts des Amériques gallery, Paris, between the late 1970s and early 1980s. This figure shows a seated figure holding a container disproportionately large in relation to his body, a relationship that gives the object central importance. The gesture, measured and diligent, suggests respectful handling, in a context possibly linked to ritual preparations. The presence of a forehead protrusion, a characteristic associated with shaman figures in Western Mexican productions, suggests a capacity for intercession with the world of invisible forces. The concentrated attitude and interiorized face reinforce this interpretation. In the Colima ensembles, these scenes may evoke moments linked to the preparation or use of ritual substances, sometimes associated with altered states of consciousness. The set is distinguished by the tension between the simplicity of the figure and the monumentality of the vessel, structuring a strong, immediately legible image.