Colima Head Vessel, Comala Style, Protoclassic, 100 BC - AD 250

Douglas Hague, Los Angeles
Edwin and Cherie Silver, Los Angeles, acquired from the above on June 14, 1967

Inventoried by Hasso von Winning, March 28, 1970, no. 1

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, January 28 - June 30, 1975 (ex.75.21) 
Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA, Los Angeles, Companions of the Dead: Ceramic Tomb Sculpture from Ancient West Mexico, October 11 - November 27, 1983

Hasso von Winning, The Shaft Tomb Figures of West Mexico, Los Angeles, 1974, p. 109, fig. 56 
Jacki Gallagher, Companions of the Dead: Ceramic Tomb Sculpture from Ancient West Mexico, Los Angeles, 1983, p. 49, fig. 37

The head vessel was a particular genre within the wide variety of zoomorphic, phytomorphic and abstract spouted vessels, and was exclusive to the Colima region. Similar vessels, such as the one in the Proctor Stafford collection are distinguished by the forehead projection, prominently modeled on this vessel attached to a rimmed cap or headband (Kan, Meighan, and Nicholson, Proctor Stafford Collection, 1970, fig. 123). The large spout at the back indicates a ritual or performative use. On this finely modeled head, the face is highly stylized with tiny diamond-shaped eyes under finely raised brows and a slender aquiline nose, in marked contrast to the voluminous face. The protruding mouth bears a distinct row of clenched teeth.