Ceramic shaft tomb figure of a squatting male (priest) holding a perforated rattle in his right hand, wearing a headdress; his left hand is raised up, touching his head. Figure's face is long and rectangular in shape. He has a sharp nose and triangular shaped mouth, with his tongue visible. The lips and eyes are carved in low relief. He has large oval-shaped ears with circular earrings. Front of headdress has decorative, raised diagonal lines across it. Body partly painted red. Past breaks and repairs visible on surface; a small triangular piece is missing from the back. Figure is hollow.

• Narrative

  Purchased by the donor's father from a dealer, while he was visiting the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico in 1960.

• History Of Use

  These types of hollow, naturalistic redware ceramics have been found in (often elaborate) shaft tombs, a mortuary structure unique to the western Mexican states of Colima, Nayarit and Jalisco. Some experts think the main figure found in such burials may represent a powerful, elite member of the society; other figures may depict retainers sacrificed to accompany that person in the afterlife. Other figures commonly depict warriors, pregnant women, acrobats, male and female couples both seated and standing, and women with children. (The end date of the period is in dispute.)

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• Type of Item figure
• Culture Western Mexico
• Material clay, paint, adhesive
• Measurements height 29.0 cm, width 22.0 cm, depth 16.0 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner John Nightingale
• Received from John Nightingale

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• Made in Jalisco, Nayarit

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• Creation Date between 1 and 1500
• Collection Date during 1960
• Ownership Date before December 5, 2019
• Acquisition Date on December 5, 2019

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• Item Classes ceramics
• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3409/0001