Flat base bowl c. 201 - 700

Curator: It’s as if I’ve stumbled upon a terracotta memory. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at a Colima ceramic sculpture, dating from about 200 to 700 AD, a flat-based bowl, housed right here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The Colima culture, hailing from what is now western Mexico, were prolific ceramicists. Curator: It’s quite striking. The gaze feels…steady, knowing. Almost haunting. Editor: Given Colima burial practices, that perception makes a lot of sense. Colima ceramics are most often found in tombs. Grave goods, including ceramic works depicting humans, animals, and scenes of daily life, accompanied the deceased into the afterlife. Curator: A guide, perhaps? A face to ease the journey? The slightly downturned mouth, the intense brow…it feels incredibly personal, not some idealized figure. Editor: Exactly. These weren’t generic portraits; they were representations of specific individuals, possibly even the deceased themselves. There's an incredible intimacy. Notice the holes on the side. I wonder what they used to attach? Curator: Earrings, maybe? Or perhaps it was meant to be hung, a guardian watching over a space? Editor: Another consideration. Colima society was highly stratified, and ceramics often reflected social status. Could this have been commissioned, signifying wealth or prestige, to reflect someone's achievements? Curator: Hmmm... Maybe. What speaks to me is its raw simplicity, stripped back from all the layers of speculation: a quiet contemplation, facing eternity. There's something universally human about that. Editor: I agree. Regardless of its precise function, it’s a poignant reminder of shared humanity, bridging across centuries. It certainly inspires endless discussion and thoughts. Curator: Absolutely. A humbling, beautiful piece that asks so much and gives so little. Perfect.