Cleveland Museum of Art

Head with Animal Helmet

Date

c. 600–1000

Medium

earthenware, pigment

Culture

Mexico, Gulf Coast, San Andrés Tuxtla(?)

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The Gulf Coast of Mexico was an important center of ceramic sculpture production for more than 2,000 years. Nearly life-size hollow effigies, produced after about AD 600, are among the most spectacular works from this region. Although the faces were sometimes made with molds, this example appears to be hand-modeled. The mythical serpent helmet indicates that the figure may be a ritual performer.

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