Cleveland Museum of Art

Standing Figure

Date

c. 900–400 BCE

Medium

serpentine

Culture

Mesoamerica, Mexico, Olmec

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The Olmec were Mesoamerica's greatest lapidaries; their work in jade and serpentine was prized by both contemporary and later Mesoamerican cultures. Human beings were jaguar traits (such as the downturned mouth and paw-like hands of this figurine) are common in Olmec art. Such creatures were probably believed to possess supernatural powers.

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