Museum Expedition 1903, Purchased with funds given by A. Augustus Healy and George Foster Peabody

Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund

Carved jade spoon with incised designs filled with red pigment (probably cinnabar). The spoon's slim handle widens into a bowl and then narrows into a smaller concave extension. The bowl is incised with a face in profile with typical Olmec features including the thick, drooping lips. Two other abstract, eyeless profiles appear in front of and behind the main profile head suggesting a mask that has been cut away to reveal a human face. Behind the head, a hand-paw-wing motif represents an abbreviated version of the Olmec dragon. The three, lobed designs incised in concentric lines on either side of the bowl have been interpreted as jaguar fur. Based upon representations of clothing, ornaments and ceremonial paraphernalia on stone sculptures, spoon-like objects appear to have been used by high-status individuals as insignia and worn (when there are drill holes) as pectoral ornaments. These spoons may have also been used by shamans for the consumption of hallucinogens to induce visions.

Chubby figure seated with legs tucked under the body and arms raised with hands touching head. Traces of cinnabar found all over figure. The figure wears a helmet-like headdress with a chevron band running down the center, and there are two raised rectangular relief decorations on the figure's back. There are circular openings (losses?) under the figure, each arm, stomach, and at the back of the head. Condition: Good; U.V. light reveals repairs to the stomach, right shoulder, left leg, left arm, pelvic area and back, and the back of head.

Wooden mirror handle with carvings that portray a well-dressed individual, standing on a small pedestal, holding a trophy head in each hand. The individual wears a tunic with sleeves, a crescent-shaped headdress, and a collar with a serpent head. On the figure's tunic, headdress, legs, and elsewhere are triangles in relief. On the handle, collar, and headdress are turquoise bead inlays. Around the inlays are traces of red pigment. The eyes of the central figure as well as the eyes of the trophy heads are inlaid with thin sheets of gold that are covered over with red pigment. In the back of the carving is a shallow circular cavity which probably held a pyrite mirror. Condition: The front of the proper left side of the handle is damaged; the headdress of the central figure is chipped, broken, and repaired; the tunic has two gouges; the hair of each trophy head is chipped along the edges; the end of the handle is cracked. The object reveals overall surface wear.

This type of wooden sculpture could be given in a potlatch. Old photographs show them wearing blankets over their torsos. It is a standing male figure with facial features clearly marked. Roll of hair or headdress on top of head.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Colourful wooden mask with two long ear panels and a red crested headdress of plant fibre. The red painted face, tattooed in yellow and black, is triangular-shaped with round shell eyes placed into the hollow eye sockets. The large mouth has two boar-like teeth amongst the smaller ones. From each nostril, a ring or band connects to the spotted ears, into which are carved a crested bird (rooster?) with shell eyes, a yellow and black snake and a small red flying fish. The headdress has an interior frame of rattan onto which are tied leaves and fibres.

Colourful wooden mask with a large yellow crested headdress of plant fibre. The red and yellow tattooed face is triangular-shaped with round shell eyes placed into the hollow eye sockets, the large hollowed mouth has four curving boar-like teeth amongst the smaller ones and a tongue(?) that hangs out to touch a necklace that connects to dangling earrings. The headdress has an interior frame of rattan onto which are tied the leaves and fibres.