Mesoamerica, Veracruz, Nopiloa style?, 7th-10th century / 600–1000
Standing Female Figure
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Standing Female Figure as sculpture (Mesoamerica, Veracruz, Nopiloa style?, 7th-10th century · 600–1000).
This lovely female’s body is a flat plaque supported by a tripod at the rear.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as ceramic, pigment.
The museum's collection notes: Ancient Veracruz artists used ceramic to create figural sculptures in a range of sizes, styles, and types. This beautiful, finely wrought female figure is an exceptional example. Although her identity is unknown, her adornments signal high status: ear ornaments, a large necklace, an elaborate dress that drapes over her outstretched arms, and perhaps even her front teeth, filed into a T shape, may have symbolic importance. The unfinished back, with a tripod support, suggests that the figure was meant to be seen from the front.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtStanding Female FigureOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.