Seated Figure

The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Seated Figure as jade (Mesoamerica, Mexico, Olmec · c. 900–300 BCE).

WHY IT’S INTERESTING

Like their contemporaries, the Olmec made figurines but of greenstone rather than clay. This one, whose identity and use are mysterious, holds objects that may address nature's fertility: on the right, perhaps a cut conch shell that refers to water, and on the left, what may be a plant or a bundle of green feathers tha

SERENDIPITYA little unexpected

FamiliarWeird

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this jade as albitite.

The museum's collection notes: Like their contemporaries, the Olmec made figurines but of greenstone rather than clay. This one, whose identity and use are mysterious, holds objects that may address nature's fertility: on the right, perhaps a cut conch shell that refers to water, and on the left, what may be a plant or a bundle of green feathers that symbolizes new vegetation.

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The Cleveland Museum of ArtSeated Figure

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