Pre-Columbian Art
This collection features artifacts from many cultural groups in present-day Colombia,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru.
The objects date from c. 800 BC to c. AD 1500 and include ceramics, textiles, stone,
and precious metals. Hallmark objects are a male effigy figure from the Remojades area
of Veracruz, a polychrome jaguar vessel from Costa Rica, and a Moche effigy vessel from
Peru.
Take a short tour
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Huetar
Culture
Central Highlands - Atlantic Watershed Region, Costa Rica
Tapir Effigy Tripod Vessel, 400 - 850 AD
Ceramic, 4" h. x 7 1/4" w.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.4
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Central
Highlands - Atlantic Watershed Region, Costa Rica
Standing Female Figure Carrying Child on Back, 800 - 1500 AD
Ceramic, 6 3/4" h.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.15
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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West
Mexican Culture
Colima, Mexico
Standing Figure, BC 200 - 600 AD
Ceramic, 7" h.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.73
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Mayan
Culture
Guatemala
Monkey Deity Stamp, n.d.
Ceramic, 2" w.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.77
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Mayan
Culture
Northern Lowlands, Guatemala
Whistle in Anthropomorphic Form, BC 500 - 300 AD
Ceramic; redware, 3" h.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.80
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Mayan
Culture
Northern Lowlands, Guatemala
Tripod Cylinder Bowl, 300 - 600 AD
Ceramic, 7 1/2" h. x 6" dia.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.85
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Mayan Culture
Northern Lowlands, Guatemala
Decorated Circular Bowl, 600 - 900 AD
Polychromed ceramic, 7 1/4" dia.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.87
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Quebrada
Seca Complex, Cauca Valley, Colombia
Female Effigy Figure, ca. 1000 AD
Ceramic with red slip, 4" h. x 3 1/2" dia.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1981.7.94
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Chortega Culture
Guanacaste - Nicoya Region, Costa Rica
Jaguar Effigy Vessel, 800 - 1200 AD
Polychromed ceramic, 12 1/2" x 9 3/4"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1983.1.2
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Quimbaya
Culture
Middle Cauca River Valley, Colombia
Seated Human Figure, 500 - 1000 AD
Ceramic, 9 1/2" h. x 5" w.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1984.2.2
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Tairona
Culture
Sierra Nevada and Santa Monica Mountains, Colombia
Human Effigy with Headdress Ocarina, 1000 - 1550 AD
Ceramic, 6" h.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1984.2.4
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Narino-Carchi
Culture
Colombia & Equador Border
Tri-lobed Vessel, 1000 - 1550 AD
Ceramic with red slip, 5 1/2" x 8" x 8"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1984.2.8
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Huari
Culture
Central Coast, Peru
Textile Square, 800 - 1000 AD
Fiber, 14 3/4" x 11 1/4"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1984.3.2
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Inca
Culture
Andes Mountains, Peru
Woven Shirt, 1476 - 1534 AD
Fiber, alpaca wool, 32" x 28 1/2"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1984.3.4
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Taxdal |
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Moche Culture
North Coast, Peru
Stirrup Jar in Lizard Shape, 200 - 600 AD
Ceramic; blackware, 8" h.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #1996.10.2
Gift of Seymour Rosenberg |
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Nicoya
Culture
Darien, Costa Rica
Human Effigy Vessel, AD 1000 - 1250
Earthenware, 11" h. x 8" dia.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2000.23
Gift of Kenneth Bloom |
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Taino Culture
Hispaniola
Ceremonial Bowl, n.d.
Mold-made earthenware, 6 3/4" x 6 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2001.2.1
Gift of Lynn & Bill Brigham |
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Totonac
Culture
Small Figure, AD 1200 - 1500
Ceramic, 8 1/4" x 4 1/4" x 2"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2001.2.5
Gift of Lynn & Bill Brigham |
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Teotihuacan,
Mexico
Small Seated Figure with Crossed Legs, BC 200 - AD 700
Mold-made ceramic, 7 1/8" x 3 3/4" x 2"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2001.2.6
Gift of Lynn & Bill Brigham |
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Chupicuaro
Culture
Moralia, West Mexico
Standing Female Figure, 400 - 100 BC
Polychromed earthenware with wood base, 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 2 1/4"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2001.13
Gift of Mrs. Arlene Bard in Memory of Dr. Morton Bard |
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Colima
Culture
Mexico
Warrior with Shield, n.d.
Ceramic, 5" x 2 ¾" x 3 3/8"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.1
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Colima
Culture
Mexico
Midwife Attending a Pregnancy, n.d.
Ceramic, 3 3/8" x 5 ¼" x 3 ¾"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.15
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Colima
Culture
Mexico
Canine Effigy, ca. 200 BC - 200 AD
Ceramic, 9" x 15 7/8" x 7 ¾"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.22
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Chupicuaro
Culture
Mexico
Female Figure with Dog, ca. 300 - 100 BC
Ceramic, 7" x 4 ¼" x 1 ¾"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.24
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Tlatilco
Culture
Mexico
Female Figure, ca. 1200 - 900 BC
Ceramic, 4" x 1 ¾" x ¾"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.61
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Nayarit
Culture
Mexico
Armored Warrior, ca. 100 BC - AD 250
Ceramic, 18 1/8" x 6 3/8" x 6"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.65
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Nayarit
Culture
Mexico
Seated Figure, ca. 100 BC - 250 AD
Ceramic, 17" x 7 ½" x 6 ½"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.72
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Nayarit
Culture
Mexico
Standing Female, ca. 100 BC - AD 250
Ceramic, 16" x 8 ½" x 4 ½"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.79
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Nazca
Culture
Peru
Effigy Bottle with Bridge Handle Spouts, ca. 300 - 600 AD
Ceramic, 5 1/8" h. x 4" dia.
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.84
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Vera
Cruz Culture
Remojadas, Mexico
Head Fragment, ca. AD 550 - 950
Ceramic, 5 ½" x 5" x 4 ¼"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2002.9.100
Gift of the Estate of Col. LeRoy and Mrs. Roan Nigra |
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Aztec
Culture
Central Mexico
Figure Representing the Goddess Chalchiutlicue,1400-1520 AD
Volcanic stone, 9" x 6" x 4 1/2"
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection #2003.6
Purchased with Funds Donated by Mrs. Anne Tucker, The Docent Acquisition
Fund, and the Kent Harrison Memorial Acquisition Fund |
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