Object Notes

Small carvings of human figures are a common sculptural theme among the various cultural groups of both Central and West Mexico.

The preclassic cultures of West Mexico occupied the modern states of Jalisco, Nayarit, and Colima, where artisans produced a variety of ceramic figures in distinctive regional styles. This ceramic dog is from Late Preclassic (Late Formative) Colima.

Small carvings of human figures are a common sculptural theme among the various cultural groups of both Central and West Mexico. Lapidary artists favored a variety of precious materials for their small-scale sculptures, including alabaster, obsidian, jade, serpentine, and other varieties of greenstone. This is a fine example of stone carving from Late Formative (Late Preclassic) Guerrero.

The distinctive Veracruz ceramic style attributed to the Los Tuxtlas region often features small decorated ceramic bowls. This example depicts a large feathered serpent, with open mouth and patterned snake body.