Pair of Veracruz Ceramic Fire God Effigy Heads

Classic Veracruz, Gulf Coast of Mexico, ca. 600 – 900 CE
Height: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm) and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)

An exceptionally rare pair of ceramic effigy vessels depicting Huehueteotl, the revered Old Fire God, each modeled as the expressive head of an aged deity characterized by deeply furrowed cheeks, arched brows, and a projecting beard-like chin symbolizing wisdom and time. Both figures wear broad, circular headbands adorned with ring motifs and large earflares — emblems of status and divine authority — and display the inward gaze and open mouth associated with the breath of sacred fire.

The open cavities at the back reveal their ritual function as votive containers for offerings or incense, used in ceremonies centered on the eternal hearth and cosmic renewal. Within Classic Veracruz religious practice, Huehueteotl embodied both the domestic fire essential to daily life and the celestial flame renewing the cosmos — a powerful convergence of earthly and divine cycles.

While single fire god effigies from this region are rare in themselves, matched pairs are virtually unknown, suggesting these two were conceived as part of a larger ceremonial tableau, perhaps flanking an altar or central shrine during rites tied to solar and calendrical transitions. Their survival together offers a rare glimpse into the dualistic aspects of Mesoamerican theology — life and death, time and eternity — expressed through the language of sacred fire.

Effigies of Huehueteotl from the Gulf Coast rank among the most evocative expressions of Classic Veracruz religion, and examples of this quality and completeness are preserved in only a handful of institutional collections worldwide. The present pair is an extraordinary survivor of ancient ritual practice — a museum-worthy ensemble of exceptional rarity and spiritual resonance.

Provenance: Ex. Private, KY. collection, Ex Arte Primitivo, NY, Ex. Private New England collection, acquired from Edward H. Merrin Gallery, with copy of insurance certificate from Merrin Gallery, dated February 23, 1989.  Exhibited Epcot Center Museum, 1983 to 1986. From the collection of Andy and Neil Sackheim Dania, FL., inherited from the estate of Paula S. & Sherman Sackheim, Larchmont, N.Y., acquired from Merrin Gallery, 12/15/1971, Appraised by Merrin Gallery in 1989.