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Arts of the Americas

Seated Figure with Arms Raised to Head

Olmec

1 of 2

Caption

Olmec. Seated Figure with Arms Raised to Head, 1200–300 B.C.E.. Ceramic, white-slipped, red pigment, 12 x 8 1/2 in. (30.5 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Caroline A.L. Pratt Fund, 75.40. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Culture

Olmec

Title

Seated Figure with Arms Raised to Head

Date

1200–300 B.C.E.

Period

Early Formative Period

Geography

Place made: Xochipala, Mexico

Medium

Ceramic, white-slipped, red pigment

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

12 x 8 1/2 in. (30.5 x 21.6 cm)

Credit Line

Caroline A.L. Pratt Fund

Accession Number

75.40

Frequent Art Questions

  • Has this guy been pieced back together? Is the belly button missing, or was is used to store something?

    Yes, there are definitely repairs to it—you spotted the cracks!
    Can you walk around it to see the raised markings on its back? You might also notice traces of cinnabar, a reddish mineral pigment!
    That navel opening is actually a cleverly placed "firing hole," which allowed moisture to escape during firing.

  • Can you tell me something about this?

    Do you see the belly button of this Olmec figure? This was actually a cleverly placed "firing hole"; clay vessels need an opening to allow moisture to escape during firing.
    This is one of the oldest objects in Visible Storage! The Olmec are considered the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica. Their art styles and iconography would come to influence many later cultures from the region.

Have information?

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bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.

Artists and makers

Olmec

11 works in the collection