Female Figure
Unknown Artist
12th–9th century BCE
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
Height 2-7/16 in. (6.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Sculpture
Culture
Tlatilco
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Caroline Mailhot, 1996
Accession Number
1996.454.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This petite ceramic *Female Figure* from thelatilco culture, dating to the 12th–9th century BCE, a glimpse into one of Mesoamerica's earliest artistic traditions. Standing just 2-7/16 inches tall, this handcrafted sculpture exemplifies the formative period in the Basin of Mexico, where Tlatilco communities thrived as agricultural innovators and ceremonial centers. Such figurines, often unearthed from household contexts or burials, likely served ritual purposes, possibly embodying fertility, ancestors, or protective spirits—common themes in pre-Columbian art. Crafted from clay using coil-build...