The Jean and David Colker Collection of Pre-Columbian Art

Joined pair of figures, Zacatecas style, from Jalisco, West Mexico, 100 -300 B.C.E., earthenware, 18 x 11 1/2 x 16 inches. Permanent Collection 2000.113. Gift of Jean and David Colker.

One of the Museum's collection strengths is the stellar assemblage of more than 180 Pre-Columbian works from the collection of Jean and David Colker of south Florida. Formerly known as the ACNA Foundation Collection, and exhibited nationally as part of the National Association of Private Art Foundations Collections, the Colker collection is dated from as early as the pre-Classic period, 2000 -250 B.C.E. to the Classic period, 200 to 900 C.E, and the post-Classic period, from 900 to 1500 C.E. The collection's scope includes polychrome ceremonial pottery vessels, finely modeled clay tomb figures, animal and human effigies, and utilitarian and ritual objects representing cultural and artistic production throughout Mesoamerica (the Mexican, Maya and Central American peoples) and more specifically: west Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Yucatán Peninsula and Honduras. The collection is distinguished by seven very rare and spectacular large terra cotta deity tomb figures and Maya funerary incensario urns of exceptional quality.