1973.63 Standing Female Figure (El Faisan, Veracruz, Mexico)

These three standing female figures (1973.62, 1973.63, 1973.64) fit within the Classic period south-central Veracruz ceramic tradition. Formed by coil or slab technique with mold made faces, Veracruz ceramics usually depict human figures, often elaborately costumed, in a variety of poses. These examples wear intricate beaded headdresses, ear ornaments, necklaces, and decorated textile dress or skirt and shirt with geometric motifs and a monkey-like animal depicted on the chest in varying positions. The lower motifs on the skirt are common, but the monkey motif is unusual. Portrayed in a powerful wide stance with hands facing outward, either in an ecstatic raised pose (1973.63) or resting on the hips (1973.62, 1973.64), this could be a reference to a ritual or ceremonial pose. Two of the figures actually have a whistle above the left hands (1973.62, 1973.64), and their function as musical instruments may relate further to their ceremonial or celebratory purpose. These figures are possibly from the El Faisán area, near the Gulf Coast of Mexico in south-central Veracruz. Most Faisán figures are smaller, and depict sacrificial women or men dressed as women. These larger female figures are thus exceptional because of their size. Veracruz ceramics were often deliberately broken, used ritually as offerings, and were often buried with the dead.

Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619

Gulf Coast Mesoamerican styles: AAT: 300108063

Classic Veracruz styles: AAT: 300017056

Late Classic Veracruz: AAT: 300266231

Veracruz (state): TGN: 7005599

Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560

El Faisán (inhabited place): TGN: 7401543

ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507

slip (clay): AAT: 300010459

slip glaze: AAT: 300015110

resin (organic material): AAT: 300012882

mineral pigment: AAT: 300375550

clay: AAT: 300010439

glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914

modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130

slab method (pottery technique): AAT: 300053905

coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903

molding (forming): AAT: 300053134

burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869

Early Classic: AAT: 300016984

Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983

sculpture: AAT: 300047090

figurine: AAT: 300047455

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117

standing: AAT:  300239500

female: AAT: 300189557

women (female humans): AAT: 300025943

figures: AAT: 300189808

human figures: AAT: 300404114

faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798

head: AAT: 300262520

costume: AAT: 300209261

headdresses: AAT: 300046023

ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279

earspools: AAT: 300209300

necklaces: AAT: 300046001

textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063

dresses (garments): AAT: 300046159

skirts (garments): AAT: 300209932

shirts (camisas / main garments): AAT: 300212499

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627

lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279

triangles (polygons): AAT: 300009806

trefoils (geometric motifs): AAT: 300009786

animals: DMA

monkeys (animals): AAT: 300250028

pose: AAT: 300067390

whistles (flutes (aerophones)): AAT: 300042706

musical instruments: AAT: 300041620

music (discipline): AAT: 300054146

celebrations: AAT: 300152441

sacrifices: AAT: 300263243

funerary objects: AAT: 300234126

funerary sculpture: AAT: 300184644

burials: AAT: 300263485

n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1], [2]

Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [1], [2]

From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott and The Eugene McDermott Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, purchased from the above [1], [2], [3]

[1] The main source for this provenance is Object Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

Apply to objects where number equals 1973.63