Standing Male Figurine Wearing a Necklace and Breechcloth
500–300 BCE
Medium
Ceramic and pigment
Dimensions
H.: 7.6 cm (3 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24647
Art Historical Context
This delicate ceramic figurine, created by artists of the Chupícuaro culture in west-central Mexico between 500 and 300 BCE, offers a glimpse into the artistic traditions of the Late Preclassic period in ancient Mesoamerica. Standing just 7.6 centimeters tall, the male figure is adorned with a necklace and breechcloth, details that highlight the importance of personal ornamentation and social identity in Chupícuaro society. Such small-scale works were likely crafted as votive offerings or burial companions, reflecting spiritual beliefs and daily life in one of the earliest complex communities ...