ticketsMember | Make a donation

Horned Figure, Shaman (?)

2nd century BCE–3rd century CE
Not on view
The sculpture of Colima is as stytistically distinctive as that of the neighboring regions of Jalisco and Nayarit. Round, smooth forms with little variation in the warm red-brown surface color characterize Colima work. The wide array of postures and expressions often make the sculptures particularly pleasing to modern tastes. Seated male figures that have a horn strapped to their heads, as here, were a favored depiction. The strapped horn has recently been interpreted as a stylized conch shell, meaningful because of its relation to rulership. The horned figures, however, have also been interpreted as warriors or shamans (ritual specialists). Conjecture might suggest that the figure, with its twisting, dramatic pose, pugnacious expression, and upraised right hand clenched in a fist, was protecting the tomb into which it had been placed as a guardian.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Horned Figure, Shaman (?)
  • Date: 2nd century BCE–3rd century CE
  • Geography: Mexico, Mesoamerica, Colima
  • Culture: Colima
  • Medium: Ceramic
  • Dimensions: H. 13 5/8 × W. 12 1/2 × D. 6 1/2 in. (34.6 × 31.8 × 16.5 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Containers
  • Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
  • Object Number: 1979.206.478
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Standard bearer, Colima artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Colima
Standard bearer
Colima artist(s)
200 BCE–300 CE
Seated figure with vessel, Colima artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Colima
Seated figure with vessel
Colima artist(s)
200 BCE–300 CE
Seated dog, Colima artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Colima
Seated dog
Colima artist(s)
200 BCE–300 CE
Turtle vessel, Colima artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Colima
Turtle vessel
Colima artist(s)
200 BCE–300 CE
Conch shell vessel, Colima artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Colima
Conch shell vessel
Colima artist(s)
2nd century BCE–3rd century CE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.