Made nearly 2,000 years ago, this near-pristine, strikingly minimalist vessel could be mistaken for a modernist object. The artist achieved a flawless inflection point between the concave and convex surfaces of the lower and upper halves as well as a perfectly round shape without the use of a throwing wheel (which did not reach the Americas until the arrival of European colonizers). The high shine was attained, not with a lacquer or varnish, but rather through the laborious, hours-long process of burnishing the surface with a smooth stone or bone.
This outstanding example of Colima ceramic production reminds us that, while aesthetic tastes change, art has the power to connect across time and culture. We can empathize with the pride and satisfaction that the artist or original owner of this stunning vessel must have felt every time they looked at or used it.
Julia Burtenshaw
2024
