Caroline Tarbell Tupper Collection of Pre-Columbian Art
Mexico, Central Veracruz, Remojades area
Mexico; Central Veracruz, Remojades area
Glass container with ear of corn and popped corn
Gift of Dr. Stephen S. Goodspeed and Mrs. John Goodspeed Ainsworth
Incoming Loan, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Gift of Constance McCormick Fearing
Fragment of Head (eye, nose, mouth, chin, neck)
Fragment of a "Hacha" Form of Man's Head
Glass-like flint; somewhat transparent, shiny.
Loosely shaped figurine of a hunched over monkey; 211 on tape, underside.
West Mexico, Jalisco, Chapala
Crudely completed ceramic figurine with large eyes. 738 on underside.
Figurine: crossed legged figurine
Terra cotta figurine with crossed legs; arms resting on legs. 3 on underside.
Figurine: cross legged figurine
Terra cotta figurine sitting crossed legged. Figure's right arm is broken; 15 on rear, left side.
Jade animal figurine of a coiled snake. 240 on underside, inside coil.
Stone hunchback figure in heavey green stone.
Flattened stone figure with holes at back of neck; figure was probably used as a hanging talisman or amulet.
Stone reclining figure with handle at back; possibly used as an utilitarian object.
seated figure with large triangualr nose, reddish blackish
hard stone light & dark green with white (type M-4 diorite?)
face has pronounced features, large eyes and nose, red mouth, ears and navel, headdress; face upper body and leg are dark black
SW Mexico, Guerrero, Mezcala
Although little is known about the Mezcala culture, many scholars believe it formed an important cultural bridge between earlier Pre-Columbian societies and later ones who traded Mezcala objects and incorporated aspects of their aesthetics. Most Mezcala figurines are notable for their striking abstract appearance, a result of their spare, geometric representations of the human body. Such artifacts are important teaching tools used by UCSB professors in departments as varied as Anthropology, History of Art and Architecture, and History. Used in concert with the balance of the Museums Pre-Columbian holdings, which number over 800 objects, they help demonstrate how and why certain cultures developed. Number 488 and diorite M4 on reverse.
Although little is known about the Mezcala culture, many scholars believe it formed an important cultural bridge between earlier Pre-Columbian societies and later ones who traded Mezcala objects and incorporated aspects of their aesthetics. Most Mezcala figurines are notable for their striking abstract appearance, a result of their spare, geometric representations of the human body. Such artifacts are important teaching tools used by UCSB professors in departments as varied as Anthropology, History of Art and Architecture, and History. Used in concert with the balance of the Museums Pre-Columbian holdings, which number over 800 objects, they help demonstrate how and why certain cultures developed. Flat back with 350 at center and on lower leg.
Although little is known about the Mezcala culture, many scholars believe it formed an important cultural bridge between earlier Pre-Columbian societies and later ones who traded Mezcala objects and incorporated aspects of their aesthetics. Most Mezcala figurines are notable for their striking abstract appearance, a result of their spare, geometric representations of the human body. Such artifacts are important teaching tools used by UCSB professors in departments as varied as Anthropology, History of Art and Architecture, and History. Used in concert with the balance of the Museums Pre-Columbian holdings, which number over 800 objects, they help demonstrate how and why certain cultures developed. Number 342 on leg, reverse.
Mexico, Vera Cruz, Remoyades
Figure, headdress, prominent nose, outstreatched arms.
Gift of the Children of Barbara Bullard Storke
Mexico, Valley of Mexico
ornate headdress, prominent breasts, pinched mouth, sharp nose, holes in ears
tall headdress, hand at mouth, hole for navel
face elongated with pointed nose, slanted eyes, ornate headdress
high ornate headdress, slanted eyes and sharp nose
abstracted with gouged eyes and mouth, holes in ears, drilled holes under arms
figure with slant eyes, long nose, applied eyebrows and nipples, necklace and bracelets
Figure, generalized Pre-Classic attributes.
densely mottled green to light grey stone
West Mexico, Nayarit, Colima
Gift of Mrs. MacKinley Helm in memory of Dr. MacKinley Helm
Ceramic vessel with the form of a female torso.
West Mexico, Colima, Jalisco
Ceramic statue of a squatting female with hands propped at waist.
Mexico, Guanajuato, Chupicuaro
Ceramic female figurine with slat eyes and wearing earspools and protruding stomach indicates pregnancy. 361 on reverse of right leg.
Ceramic female figurine with slat eyes; figure is wearing white necklace.360 on reverse leg.
Ceramic female figurine with red earspools and ample breasts. 359 written on leg reverse.
Female figurine wearing large hat with ball
Ceramic female figurine with white slip extended head wearing earspools. 612 on reverse of figure.
Ceramic female figurine with white slip; protruding stomach indicating pregnancy; arms placed at chest forming ciruclar motions on each side. 610 on reverse leg.
Cermaic female figure detailed with a necklace and armbands
high headdress, thick nose, small breasts, short arms (broken?)
SE Mexico, Totonaca people
Facial amulet of an elderly man (god) with wrinkles and single tooth. 507 on back edge of face.
West Mexico, Costa Grande, Guerrero