Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. This is a large pottery figure, covered overall with white slip. She sits with one hand on her lap and another on her knee, holding a bowl. She has a skirt and spooled earrings and nose ring; she wears a round hat. Her face is fairly naturalistic for this style of pottery, with sensitive features. Fine details include the hands, feet, and clothing. Size: 6.25" W x 10.1" H (15.9 cm x 25.7 cm)

West Mexican shaft tomb figures like this one derive their names from the central architectural feature that we know of from this culture. These people would build generally rectangular vertical shafts down from the ground level down to narrow horizontal tunnels that led to one or more vaulted or rounded burial chambers. The geomorphology in the area means that these chambers are dug out of tepetate, a type of volcanic tuff material, which give the chambers a rough-edged look. Although the dimensions of the chambers vary considerably - some only large enough to hold a single burial and its offerings, others seem designed to hold entire lineages - the placement of burial goods like this hollow figure was very similar. Grouped with other hollow figures, and alongside clay bowls, and boxes, they were positioned around the body (or bodies), near the skull. Unfortunately, we lack the information we would need to understand what these figures were made for - do they represent everyday people, even individuals? Are they religious? Were they created to mediate between the living and the dead? Whatever their purpose, today they are beautiful artwork and reminders of the mysterious past.

Provenance: Ex-private Scollard collection, acquired before 1990

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#116259

Loss to some of the white slip, else intact and generally excellent