Cleveland Museum of Art

Female Figurine

Date

c. 400–100 BCE

Medium

earthenware with pigment

Culture

Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guanajuato, Chupícuaro

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Small, solid, hand-modeled figurines were a staple of the early Mesoamerican artistic repertoire. Made in distinctive styles corresponding to geographic regions, they likely were used in a variety of contexts, including rites to assure health, fertility, and prosperity. This example is from the Chupícuaro region, north of modern-day Mexico City. This figurine is small enough to fit comfortably in the palm of a hand.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.