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Exhibition Browse: West Mexico - Ritual and Identity

This exhibit examined and interpreted the art and artifacts of the shaft tomb culture that flourished in West Mexico 300 BC-500 AD, bringing together the most current research from the field, scientific laboratories and objects to re-create life, death and ritual.

With large scale murals of these settlements complementing the objects on display, the exhibition examined the various forms of sculpted vessels, paying particular attention to the human forms, which tell a rich story of a culture predating the more widely known Aztecs, but equally as fascinating and arguably more influential.

Comala style, polished red olla depicting a bowl or basket of zapotes

Funerary sculpture. Comala style. Multiple “Zapotes” (tomatoes) designs. Large flange.

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Ixtlan del Rio hollow ceramic figure of seated male with fan in hand

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction. Seated male with emblem of status in hand. Conical hat with chin strap. Painted articles of adornment including cape, belt, arm bands, earspools, hat, and neck decorations.

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Ixtlan del Rio hollow ceramic figure of seated female with bowl at shoulder

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction. Seated female with cup at shoulder. Painted articles of adornment include patterned dress, arm bands, earrings, nose ring, patterned hat, and neck decorations.

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Ixtlan del Rio hollow ceramic figure of seated female with nursing infant

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction. Seated female with nursing infant. Hunchback with painted articles of adornment including dress, arm bands, earrings, hat, and neck decorations.

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Nayarit styled seated male figure with negative painted design, possibly depicting skin pathology on body decoration

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Seated figure. Diseased male.

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Comala style standing dog vessel with ear of corn in mouth

Funerary sculpture. Comala style. Standing dog effigy. Mottled surface.

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Tripod composite jar with multiple nodes around perimeter

Funerary vessel. Tripod jar with multiple nodes around perimeter. Squash design at top with large flange.

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Comala style ceramic vessel with multiple sculpted faces around perimeter

Multiple sculpted faces around perimeter. Large flange.

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Comala style ceramic vessel with multiple squashes around perimeter

Multiple “squashes” around perimeter. Large flange.

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Ixtlán del Rio hollow figure standing male warrior

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio Style. Hollow construction. Standing male warrior with dart. Grave Guardian. Painted face. Patterned hat.

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Figura Masculina Sentada

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Tuxcacuesco-Ortices style, a "Teco" variant, solid human figurine

Funerary sculpture. Ceramic human effigy.

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Tuxcacuesco-Ortices style, a "Teco" variant, solid human figurine

Funerary sculpture. Ceramic human effigy.

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Two headed solid, Tuxcacuesco-Ortices style, human figurine

Funerary sculpture. Ceramic human effigy with two heads.

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Ixtlan del Rio style hollow ceramic human figure

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction.

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Ixtlan del Rio style hollow seated female figure carrying a bowl at her right shoulder

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction. Seated female with bowl at shoulder. Painted articles of adornment include patterned dress and neck decorations. With sculpted earrings, nose ring, and twisted hat. White painted eyes. See 54.4045 for matching male effigy. “Marriage pairs” are common within the Ixtlan del Rio style.

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In the style of an Ixtlan del Rio style hollow seated male and female ceramic conjoined pair

In the style of Ixtlan del Rio style seated male and female figures. Hollow construction. Male with conical hat. Painted articles of adornment include patterned shirt and neck decorations. Each with with sculpted earrings, nose rings, and white painted eyes. “Marriage Pairs” are common within the Ixtlan del Rio style, though this pair is modern.

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San Sebastian style hollow ceramic human figure

Funerary sculpture. Lagunillas style. Hollow construction. Seated male effigy. Sculpted earrings and hat. One hand on head, the other holding nose.

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Ixtlan del Rio style hollow male musician playing a rasp

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction. Seated male musician with rasp and gourd resonator. Painted articles of adornment including belt, arm bands, earrings, hat, and neck decorations.

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Male ceramic effigy with hollow construction in Ixtlan del Rio style

Funerary sculpture. Ixtlan del Rio style. Hollow construction. Seated male with hands at knees. Painted articles of adornment include patterned shirt and neck decorations. With sculpted earrings, nose ring, and ornate hat. White painted eyes. See 54.3933 for matching female effigy. “Marriage Pairs” are common within the Ixtlan del Rio style.

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