AMEC Analysis: Unknown. Bag is labeled: "In box with P14 stuff no tag. ???" One earthenware fragment with black glaze. L. Penttila 2/22/2010

Standing, Remojadas-style, male figure, probably representing a warrior, with hands clasping what looks like a cup in front of his body. The figure's upper arms are adorned with spheres of clay that may represent scarification or another type of body adornment. He wears an elaborate headdress with chinstrap, hollow ear spools, a nose bar, wide necklace, arm bands, loincloth, and sandals. His face and body are covered with black pigment, which is a complex mixture of plant saps, resins, crushed plants, asphalt, and black soot (carbon), frequently used by Veracruz artists to embellish their sculptures. Condition: good.

Museum Collection Fund

Gift of the Coltrera Collection

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Birds are among the most often portrayed animals in the pre-Columbian art of Central America. Their song and ability to fly were greatly admired traits, and whistles like the charming examples seen here would have reproduced a bird’s melodic call almost perfectly. The polychrome whistle on the right has a painted lattice design, and the one on the left is adorned with incised lines, triangles, and circles filled with white pigment. Both types of decoration suggest bird feathers.


Los pájaros están entre los animales más representados en el arte precolombino de América Central. Sus canciones y habilidad para volar eran cualidades enormemente admiradas, y silbatos como los encantadores ejemplos que se aprecian aquí pueden haber reproducido el sonido melodioso de los pájaros casi a la perfección. El silbato policromo a la derecha tiene un diseño de encaje pintado, y el de la izquierda está adornado con líneas incisas, triángulos, y círculos rellenos con pigmento blanco. Ambos tipos de decoración sugieren plumas de pájaros.