Although he has lost his weapon and part of his fingers of the right hand, the image can be identified as a warrior; the dynamic stance is characteristic of the sculptures that include this theme in the realist subtype with eyes of pastillage in the Tuxcacuesco-Ortices style.
This is an individual with a warlike attitude; his minimal clothing, which offers little protection, is striking; on the one hand, one possibility is that he was about to launch a weapon, as in a long range battle; on the other, it should be noted that one of the main features of the style of pottery sculpture of the shaft tomb culture is the emphasis on anatomy, in the representation of the naked or scantily dressed human body.
In this sense, we are before an expression of the reality of the art, not an imitation of a physical or visual reality. The head is elongated, presenting tabular deformation; he wears a very striking headdress, undoubtedly fundamental to the identity of the figure. Two conical elements are noted; the central one, projecting from the broad forehead, is larger, has a slight curvature and four branches facing downward and to the sides; these, in principle, evoke deer antlers, but the points on the four bottom tips gives the impression of spongy bone, as if they were roots and, as far as I know, the configuration differs from the natural evidence.
Moreover, the deer is practically absent in this ceramic art, including all stylistic variants in which it is manifested. As an option, I think it can correspond to that of a fang with four roots; because of its large size, perhaps typical of a marine animal, although it may have been magnified. The second conical element is individual and comes out of the side seen on the left; the surface indicates human modification, since it has incisions that create a grid.
I identify the rest of the headdress as textile bands that serve to the "horns" or "fangs" and as an ornament; behind the left earring hangs a long band and on the other side a kind of large bow was shaped. The top of the head rises behind the main cone, it suggests short hair and is crossed by a band.
The earrings are also ostentatious, in a vertical arrangement, each consists of two discs and a curved elongated shape with a circular hole that holds something that resembles an animal fang. The "antlers" with several tips and its natural appearance make this a unique headdress; in the same style and in the Comala, also situated in Colima, the representations of men with headdresses that have one or more conical projections are common; however, they are shorter and each one is usually an individual point; this work provide insight into identifying its origin.
The rest of the array is composed of a pair of bracelets, a belt only traced in the front, an embossed cloth and a bulge wide at the front with bangs indicated by incisions, while the back shows two hanging bands (one fragmented); perhaps it covers or is part of a maxtlatl. The remarkable quality in the manufacture of this small piece is worth mentioning; the thoroughness of the artist in the details of the headdress and fine facial features complete with lips is surprising, as well as the accomplished active and vigorous posture of the warrior.
