|This standing figure was assembled from hand-built, separately modeled
sections. The elaborate methods of decoration, large scale, and expressiveness
suggest that such pieces were made by trained craftspeople. To make
this female figure, the artist first rolled out a large slab of clay
and draped it over a convex mold to form a large, hollow torso. Then
two long, thin ropes of clay were rolled between the hands and attached
to her body. Massive elephant-like legs were modeled and huge toes
carved out on each foot. A thick, plain headband was shaped and placed
around her forehead, while a flattened sheet of clay provided a long
|Another noteworthy aspect of the figure is her carefully detailed
jewelry. The artist formed and applied numerous small half-circles
of clay by hand to represent the polished stones of her fanlike earrings.
|West Mexican pottery figures are all low-fired, porous EARTHENWARE.
They were dried and then baked on or near an open flame, or in simply
constructed open kilns, to make the clay harder and stronger. (A closed
kiln is required to produce the high temperatures necessary for creating
harder, nonporous stoneware.) After firing, the artist painted on
patterned fabrics, facial decoration, and jewelry in white, red, yellow,
and black mineral and vegetable PIGMENTS.
Remnants of paint are seen on this figure's face, headband, and skirt.
Her fingernails, toenails, and teeth were painted white. The colors
have worn off or faded over time because they were not baked on in
the firing process.
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