Large Colima Gadrooned Tripod Vessel with Parrot Form Legs

This impressive Colima gadrooned tripod vessel stands as a striking example of ancient West Mexican ceramic artistry. Measuring 10 inches in height and 15.25 inches in width, the vessel features a bulbous, gadrooned, squash form body, an organic motif deeply rooted in Colima’s agricultural and cosmological symbolism. It rests on three integral tripod legs, each sculpted in the form of a parrot with incised crossed wings and boldly rendered round eyes. The parrot, a recurrent figure in Mesoamerican iconography, is often associated with fertility, vitality, and communication between worlds.

The redware surface remains exceptionally well preserved, with rich slip tones and strong scattered mineral deposits indicative of prolonged interment and authenticity. A 2-inch original section has been professionally reattached at the lip rim, and two minor rim chips are present, both unobtrusive and stable. These restorations are well within the expectations for archaeological ceramics of this scale and age.

Dating from circa 200 BCE to 300 CE, this Colima tripod vessel is a commanding and culturally significant example of shaft tomb ceramic tradition, prized for both its sculptural ingenuity and symbolic resonance. The integration of avian figural legs into a utilitarian form elevates this piece from a functional object to a ritual artifact, embodying the sophistication and spiritual worldview of the ancient Colima people.

Provenance: Ex. Merrin Gallery, New York City. From a private New York collection, acquired in the 1970s.