Yellow clay
Chinesco culture, Mexico, 200-100 BC
Anthropomorph clay sculpture
Type 'C' figure
On a modern metal and acrylic glass stand
Dimensions: 24 x 13 cm
Provenance: Cliff Baker collection, CA, USA, acquired before 1960
Early handmodeled Chinesco fertility figure of characteristic form

This beautiful hand-modeled hollow plastic figure of a woman is made of red painted yellow clay and comes from the Mexican Chinesco-Culture. Major characteristics of these figures are their bulky legs, wide hips and the triangle-shaped head. Its wide hips and broad buttocks symbolize fertility which was its main purpose. Its thin arms are leaning on its waist and they merge smoothly into the material. The eyes are painted with two red bars. The verso shows traces of black painted diagonal stripes.

The female figure is made of yellow clay and is polished. The sculpture was probably completely colored. The bottom of the legs bears a hole, which was used to hold the figure. The sculpture shows some paint flakes and material losses. The head was reattached and restored on the breaking point. The dimensions are 24 cm (height) and 13 cm (width).



Female Fertility Figures

Many women were frightened of barrenness and thus fertility figures were widespread and served to incant female fertility. They were worn on the body or buried under their houses to secure the blessing of children and a riskless birth. They were also put into the grave to further secure fertility in the after-life. The female, naked fertility figures normally have shortened arms and legs, a large head with a wide grinning face and prominent eyes, nose and mouth. The pointed breasts and buttocks are symbols of femininity and fertility. The female figures sometimes show additionally decorative jewellery.

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