The ancient inhabitants of the site of Casas Grandes, located in Mexico close to the border with New Mexico, produced some of the most unique pottery of the southwest, exemplified in this stunning effigy pot. Here the artist has incorporated into a simple pot shape a very expressive and powerful human face. A tactile, sculptural quality is achieved through a few simple molded and pinched surfaces. The meditative and spiritual expression arises from the deftly incised eyes and mouth. Subtle changes in surface color highlight and accentuate the softly sculpted face. Both our visual and tactile senses are engaged in this extraordinary vessel, reaching through time and space to experience a most expressive and sensitive ancient people of the Casas Grandes region of Mexico.