Vessel in the Form of a Seated Drinking Figure

Assembled from cylinders of clay that define the legs, arms, and torso, this seated figure is portrayed in an awkward posture as he leans forward to drink from a gourd-shaped vessel. This figure also functions as a vessel and may represent a young man in the midst of participating in a feast, perhaps even his own rite of passage. The coffee-bean-shaped eyes and red color are identified as the Colima style, one of the three main substyles of ancient ceramics from West Mexico. Close examination of the figure’s torso reveals a tunic draped over his right shoulder. It is decorated with a check pattern alternating between plain and cross-hatched squares. This design elegantly transitions into bow tie elements that resemble butterflies on the back.