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.

Carll H. de Silver Fund

These ivory figurines may be high-status versions of the miniature clay examples that have been found in burial contexts throughout the Andean region of South America. The small and delicate male and female carvings are decorated with stone and shell inlays that suggest that they possibly functioned as treasured talismans or ritual offerings.


Estas figurillas de marfil pueden tratarse de versiones de alto rango de los ejemplos de miniaturas de barro que se han encontrado en contextos funerarios a través de la región Andina de Sudamérica. Los pequeños y delicados tallados masculino y femenino están decorados con incrustaciones de piedra y concha, sugiriendo que tuvieron una función como amuletos atesorados o como ofrendas rituales.

Museum Expedition 1933, Purchased with funds given by Jesse Metcalf

A. Augustus Healy Fund

Ceramic funerary mask decorated with colored resin enamels. Mask is composed of a Paracas bowl to which the details have been applied by incision or application. Eyes consist of 2 interior cones decorated with concentric circles. 11 tabs project from rim of the face, 8 of which represent serpent heads. A 12th projection at the top of the mask forms the head of a human who is impersonating the Oculate Being by wearing this deity's mask. It's body is represented two dimensionally by incisions embellished with red, yellow and green resin enamel. Its nose is a smaller version of the huge probocis of the mask.

Bequest of Mrs. Carl L. Selden

Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

These ivory figurines may be high-status versions of the miniature clay examples that have been found in burial contexts throughout the Andean region of South America. The small and delicate male and female carvings are decorated with stone and shell inlays that suggest that they possibly functioned as treasured talismans or ritual offerings.


Estas figurillas de marfil pueden tratarse de versiones de alto rango de los ejemplos de miniaturas de barro que se han encontrado en contextos funerarios a través de la región Andina de Sudamérica. Los pequeños y delicados tallados masculino y femenino están decorados con incrustaciones de piedra y concha, sugiriendo que tuvieron una función como amuletos atesorados o como ofrendas rituales.