Seated Figure 100 - 600

This seated figure was made in ancient Nayarit, now part of Mexico, using readily available clay. The figure's warm earthy tones and simple form reflect the material's inherent qualities. The maker likely hand-built this figure, perhaps using coils of clay to gradually build up the form. Decoration was added using a slip, a liquid clay mixture, to create the red stripes on the torso and hat. The figure's unadorned appearance and tactile quality invite contemplation of its creation. Pottery traditions like this one, which would have been common in the Americas, often get short shrift as not being "high art." But this figure reminds us that the ingenuity and labor of indigenous communities are essential to understanding the broader history of art. Appreciating the materials, making, and cultural context allows us to fully recognize the depth and sophistication of this ancient tradition.