figure
- Museum number
- Am,+.7001
- Description
-
Female figure made of sandstone depicting Tlazolteotl, standing (truncated), hands folded in front, with fan-shaped (plumed ?) head-dress having centre-piece in form of cone on top of section of cylinder; left-hand proper edge of head-dress lost. Figure emerging from oblong base.
- Production date
- 900-1450
- Dimensions
-
Height: 22 centimetres (base)
-
Height: 150 centimetres (overall)
-
Width: 50 centimetres (base)
-
Width: 57 centimetres (figure)
-
Depth: 30 centimetres (base)
-
Depth: 14 centimetres (figure)
- Curator's comments
- McEwan 2009
Sculptures from Mexico's northern Gulf Coast depict Tlazolteotl, a goddess associated with spinning, weaving, childbirth and curing. As the "eater of filth" she was responsible for absorbing and absolving the guilt of sinful deeds. Her spectacular fan-shaped headdress would originally have been made from beaten bark cloth and brightly painted. A single large but rather thin slab of sandstone was used to sculpt this figure, imposing constraints on its depth and volume.
- Location
- On display (G27/od)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1990 20 Oct-9 Dec, Japan, Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Treasures of the British Museum, cat. no.214
1991 5 Jan-20 Feb, Japan, Yamaguchi, Prefectural Museum of Art, Treasures of the British Museum, cat. no.214
1991 9 Mar-7 May, Japan, Osaka, National Museum of Art, Treasures of the British Museum, cat. no.214
2010-2011, London, BM/BBC, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
- Condition
- Part of head-dress missing (left side proper); also evidence of repair.
- Acquisition date
- 1879
- Acquisition notes
- Purchased through Christy Fund in 1879 from W.G.Jolly of Manchester.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am,+.7001
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Am1989,Q.3 (also registered as [deleted])