Human figurine
Hollow ceramic male figurine. Red clay with a yellow buff slip. Part of the Smiling figurines style . . . Probable reproduction.
Typical of classic period 300 - 900AD
This figure is of a young male in the form commonly called "Twirling Dancer". On his necklace he has a tinkler bell which probably represents an olivera shell that was hollowed out and fitted with a clapper to make noise.
- Object: Human figurine
- Artist: -
- Circa: A.D.300- 900
- Dimensions: 9" tall 6" wide
- Culture Area: Mesoamerica
- Cultural Group: Remojadas, Veracruz
- Cultural Context: The Classic Period "Smiling Figures" of Central Veracruz are among the most famous Mesoamerican ceramic sculptures. Both male and female, sometimes "infantile" people, are represented with happy faces, filed teeth, and outstretched arms. Some of these have been identified as representing Xochipilli, the male god of dance, music, and joy, or his female counterpart, Xochiquetzal. Another hypothesis is that they represent the human impersonators of gods who were about to be sacrificed. Sacrificial victims were often given morning glory seeds or other hallucinogens to bring on a state of euphoria, so that they would not appear to be sad at their fate. To approach death sadly would have brought misfortune to all. (see Doris Heyden's article, "A New Interpetation of the Smiling Figure", in Ancient Art of Veracruz, the Ethnic Arts Council of Los Angeles, L.A. County Museum of Natural History, 1971.)
- Donor: Ken Murphy
- Catalog #: 90.144