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.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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
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

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
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

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

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

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

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

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
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
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
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

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

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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


Collections Main
Modern & Contemporary Art
Works on Paper
Pattern & Decoration
Paintings
Photography
Folk Art
Sculpture
Pre-Columbian Art
Asian Arts
African Art
Decorative Arts
Artists in the Collection
Gifts of Art & Collection Needs
Care & Evaluation of Your Art

 

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