Female Dwarf Holding a Staff
Artist/Maker: Colima (Pacific Coast, Mexico)
Date: ca. 300 BCE-300 CE
Medium: pottery and slip paint
Dimensions:Overall: 12 3/8 x 8 5/8 x 6 1/2 in. (31.4 x 21.9 x 16.5 cm)
Classification: Art Works
Credit Line: Gift of Julien Balogh
Object number: 76.035.002
DescriptionThis female dwarf figure is an excellent example of the Colima figural ceramic tradition that portrayed the human condition in great detail. She has a prominent nose and lips, but her eyes lack expression. Her ears are pierced with noticeable holes for additional ornaments. Her breasts are barely suggested and she lacks her left hand. A simple red skirt is the only clothing depicted and is typical attire for women in Colima figurines. In West Mexican cultures dwarfs were believed to have shamanic powers.
