Sculpture of an Old Woman Carrying a Pot on Her Back - PF.3189, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 550 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 4.75" (12.1cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta. A smile worth a million dollar gleams forth from this exquisite figurine. We must remember that the sculptor is working with a medium, terracotta, that is not as easy to mold or chisel as other stones or materials. To capture such an individualistic expression in the moment took an extremely talented and sensitive artist. We can sense the artist's tender touch as he pushed the clay down under the eyes and upward from the mouth to form the raised cheeks. The protruding lower lip has been delicately rendered underneath the recessed upper lip, and the wrinkles depicted at either side of the mouth reveal the signs of aging, as well as the ebbing breasts. Age seems to establish the dignity of this person of high status (indicated by the earspools and by the deformation of her skull). She carries a brazeros on her back and may be a female counterpart to the Old Fire God who also carries a brazeros on his back. There is a personal communication from this poignantly aging woman that is magical, leaving us with an unforgettable impression.

Antiquities
Ancient Unknown