Jalisco Kneeling Female Figure

This commanding earthenware figure is attributed to the Jalisco region of Western Mexico and dates to ca. 400 AD. Possibly depicting an ancestor, warrior, or mythical person, the figure was likely one of a group of figures placed within a tomb to provide companionship and protection in the afterlife.

The figure is beautifully sculpted and an excellent example of the Ameca-Ezatlán style of Jalisco sculpture. Her stylized form follows the conventions of Jalisco pottery, with squat bodily proportions, unarticulated legs, and an elongated face with a tall headdress and a striking gaze. The meaning behind the figure's unusual posture in unclear, but is commonly interpreted as a fighting stance or a pose of mourning. The figure is colored by a red and yellow clay slip finish and smoothed to a beautifully soft, burnished finish.