Anthropomorphic Funerary Urn, Mexico, Zapotec Culture, Monte Albán III, 200 Bce To 500 Ce

Origin: Mexico Culture: Zapotec, Monte Alban III Age: 200 BCE to 500 CE Dimensions: 15.3 x 8.7 cm Material: Terracotta Condition: IntactProvenance: Former American private collection from the 70'-80 'The funeral urn presented here consists of a cylindrical container in front of which is attached an anthropomorphic effigy in the round. She features a sitting dignitary wearing a complex feathered headdress, hands resting on his lap and framing a trophy head. The disproportionately large face welcomes large eyes with half-closed eyelids framing a prominent nose eagle beak, mouth wide and ajar revealing the dentition. The ears are decorated with disks (tambas) and the neck receives a wide necklace of pearls applied by the technique of pastillage. The wrists receive wristbands materialized by incisions.Monte Albán was the main center of Zapotec culture which flourished from 500 BC to 1000 AD. It is located in central Mexico at the top of a mountain overlooking the valley of Oaxaca. One of the characteristics of this civilization was its funerary architecture. The tombs of cut stones could reach oversized dimensions, worthy of palaces and were adorned with resplendent paintings. The deceased were interred with many ceramic funerary objects. The apogee of this civilization is between 200 and 700 AD (Monte Albán III ab), also called recent Classic, the site of Monte Albán reaching its maximum development. The term "funeral urn" seems inappropriate for such objects, the term "container effigy" would be more appropriate in the current state of knowledge. Indeed, associated with bodies during funeral rites, they have always been found empty and their symbolic function could be associated with a particular event such as the construction of a temple for example.