Colima Pottery Double Bird Lime Powder Container

**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A hand-built pottery vessel, used to contain crushed lime powder, in the form of two nesting birds. The flat base is surrounded by incised striations illustrating a nest, with a large opening atop the birds' backs, and a pair of heads and tails protruding from the ends. Ancient Mesoamericans would add lime powder to their mouths while chewing coca leaves to enhance the hallucinogenic properties. Size: 2.6" L x 2" W (6.6 cm x 5.1 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Leonard Kalina collection, California, USA, 1970 to 2000

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#156153
Condition Report: Restoration to left bird head, left wing, and beak of right bird head, with resurfacing and overpainting along new material and break lines. Light encrustations within some recessed areas and incised details and softening to some finer details. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.