Gift of Charles A. Schieren

Gift of Charles A. Schieren

Gift of Charles A. Schieren

Gift of Charles A. Schieren

All that remains of Mimbres villages are rubble mounds with scattered pottery shards. No one knows if the Mimbres moved or who their descendants might be. Mimbres potters, probably women, created sophisticated designs for six hundred years. The pottery objects that have survived are primarily executed in black and white with complicated designs. Some of the best pottery pieces apparently had holes deliberately punched into their centers before they were placed in burials underneath house floors, but we do not know why.

The object is an unevenly shaped bowl made from a low fired ceramicware. The inside of the bowl is covered with white slip upon which has been painted a design in dark red-bown pigment. The design consists of three dancing male figures. The faces of these figures have been left white except for a black masklike band across their eyes. Their heads are decorated with cross hatching; the figures hold staffs. The rim of the bowl has several chips missing. Two drilled holes are also in the rim. There is a blind crack extending from two fragmented sections along the rim. The object was broken into three large sections in the past and repaired. The overall surface is worn.

The figure is the one third from the left. It has an open mouth with closed eyes. One of his arms is held across his chest and the other across the chest touching his shoulder. His head has a serrated edge as if wearing a headdress. See also 03.325.4528- 34. These figures were all found together inside a painted pot. They were purchased from the German trader, Cronmeyer.

The figure is the one fourth from the left (in back, largest figure). This figure has an open mouth with painted eyes. There is a pointed triangle on his forehead. His arms are short and held against his chest. His feet are also short and curled. See also 03.325.4527- 34. These figures were all found together inside a painted pot. They were purchased from the German trader, Cronmeyer.

The figure is the third from the right. This figure has an open mouth with closed eyes. Her arms are held across her chest. Her vagina clearly shows as she is crouching on a smooth ball form. See also 03.325.4527- 34. These figures were all found together inside a painted pot. They were purchased from the German trader, Cronmeyer.

The figure is on the left (in front). This female figure has an open mouth with closed eyes. Her arms are held along her sides and under her stomach. Her head has a wrapped form as if wearing a headdress. She is in a kneeling position sitting down on her legs. See also 03.325.4527- 34. These figures were all found together inside a painted pot. They were purchased from the German trader, Cronmeyer.