Pair of Ducks Vessel

Date

300 BCE - 300 CE

Creator

Effigy ceramics like these are iconic to the Colima area, a modern day state located on the west coast of Mexico for which the style is named. These artifacts are most likely from a shaft tomb, hence their amazing level of preservation. The ducks exemplify a style known as Colima Polished Red, with traits such as their orangish-red tone, larger size, and highly polished surface, among other factors. Colima Polished Red is the most well-known style from the Comala phase, which spanned from roughly 300 BCE -- 300 CE. It is possible that the ducks were included in the shaft tomb to symbolically provide the entombed individuals with sustenance in the afterlife.