Seated figure

Outside of the state of Guerrero, small fine stone carvings are comparatively rare in West Mexico. A few highly polished figures such as this pendant have reportedly been found with other items in Colima tombs (Alsberg, 1969:112-8, figs. 55-9; Kan et al., 1989: no. 203; Leyenaar et al., 1992: no. 142). This very stylised figure, most likely male, is shown in a crouching position with hands on knees. The eyes are deeply carved, but otherwise there is little detail on the face. A smooth, relatively wide groove down the back indicates the spine, and the hands and feet are rendered by incision. A thin groove across the top of the head from ear to ear seems to follow a natural light-coloured vein in the stone. Two drilled holes at the back of the shoulders allow for suspension.

Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection 3 volume catalogue, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997).