Subject: warrior
Culture: West Mexican
Setting:Colima-Jalisco-Nayarit
National Museum of the American Indian Heye Center *
* Dallas Museum of Art
Mexico: state of Narayit or state of Colima
Late Formative Period,
c. 100 B.C. - A.D. 200
Ceramic" ...
* Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History > Gods, Kings, and Artisans
"Shaman Warrior. Colima Style.
Ancient West Mexico is famous for ceramic portrayals of the natural and social world. In addition they produced objects with sacred, supernatural and shamanistic qualities. This example is of a shaman facing left, wearing a band [of] wrapped horn on his forehead, and holding a club. Horns were an insignia of supernatural, shamanistic and priestly power. The fact that the figure faces left (the side commonly linked with misfortune, evil and sorcery), wears a horn, and holds a club identifies him as shaman warrior. Armed Colima 'one-horns' always face left, those without weapons look up or straight ahead. Conceivably, he acted as a guide or protector on the journey to the underworld. Shamans fought witches, sorcerers, unseen agents, and human enemies with magical weapons. Other shamanistic duties included curing illness through both practical and magical means, prognosticating the future, conducting rituals, and guarding social, physical and psychic stability. Colima, Formative Period."
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History > Gods, Kings, and Artisans *
* Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History > Gods, Kings, and Artisans
"Male Figure. Ixtlán del Rio Style. Thin solid arms, stout cylindrical torsos, pinched noses, open mouths, and cheek scarification characterize Nayarit's Ixtlán del Rio style. Gender differences center on attire and activity, but both sexes wear numerous rings on their ears and noses and are adorned with molded and painted costume details. Nayarit figures can portray musicians, ancestral pairs, family members, and ball players. This is a male figure. He wears a double fillet turban with white stripes, multiple earrings, nose ring, and codpiece and carries a fan in his left hand and rattler in his right. Nayarit. Formative Period"
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History > Gods, Kings, and Artisans *
"Male Figure. Zacatecas Style. Zacatecas figures are well fired with highly burnished surfaces that are decorated with polychrome slip and resist painting. Each figure has an oval pair vent on the top of the head and round eyes and mouth. Males are usually represented seated, with their arms folded across their knees. The hairstyle of male Zacatecas is unique; hair was worn wound around two supports, creating the effect of horns (only one 'horn' remains on this example.). Jalisco. Formative Period."
* Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Museum of Fine Arts > Art of the Americas *
"Tomb figures Mexico (Nayarit), San Sebastián style, 300 BC-AD 300
Earthenware with red, black, and cream slip paint; manganese staining (a natural deterioration process)
Tombs in West Mexico were used over many decades and became filled with ceramic figures that may portray family members. ... The pointed hat and woven tunic-armor identify the male figure as a warrior; he holds a baton-like weapon." ...
* National Museum of the American Indian Heye Center
"West Mexico Couple Stylized Shaft Tombs figures from Nayarit represent ideal characteristics of men and women, along with details of dress. The chief-warrior figure holds an ax and wears a máxtlatl (loincloth), headdress, and cape. The female figure wears a skirt and elaborate body paint. Both wear nose ornaments and earrings." ...
* Museum of Fine Arts > Art of the Americas
"Standing male figure Mexico (Colima/Michoacán), Coahuayana style, 300 BC-AD 200 Earthenware with cream-brown slip paint
This unusually large figure once served as a tomb guardian, and may portray a principal family member. He is clearly a person of importance. His head strap and horn relate to concepts of rulership, shamanic power, and cosmic fertility and growth; and his formalized pose and closed eyes suggest ritual introspection. He wears a beaded necklace and an elaborately woven belt and loin wrap; the marks on his shoulders may be decorative scars." ...
* Museum of Fine Arts, Houston > McGovern Hall of the Americas
Museum of Fine Arts > Art of the Americas *
"Warrior figure Mexico (Jalisco), Ameca-Etzatlán style, 300 BC-AD 200
Earthenware with cream, red, and black slip paint" ...
