On view
Art of the Ancient Americas
Warrior with shield,
100 BCE–300 CE
Lagunillas C style
Late Formative Period
2016-1094
The rectangular elements concealing the bodies of these three figurines, each painted with swirling designs, likely depict shields, identifying the subjects as warriors. The shields may have been made of fabric or leather, as they were in other parts of Mesoamerica, because these pliable materials reduce the impact of hurled darts or thrust spears more effectively than unyielding materials such as wood. The headdresses worn by the figures may indicate military rank. Two warriors share similar headdresses, as though reflections of each other. The headdresses are decorated with bird faces topped with finials, possibly alluding to a bird’s crest or tail feathers. Because these three warrior figures lack archaeological context, it is unknown whether they were placed in a shaft tomb with objects representing other members of this military squad.
Information
Title
Warrior with shield
Dates
100 BCE–300 CE
Medium
Ceramic with traces of slip-paint
Dimensions
20.1 × 11.5 × 7.8 cm (7 15/16 × 4 1/2 × 3 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Gillett G. Griffin
Object Number
2016-1094
Place Made
North America, Mexico, Nayarit, West Mexico
Culture
Period
By 1966, Gillett G. Griffin (1928-2016), Princeton, NJ [1]; 2016, bequest of Gillett G. Griffin to the Princeton University Art Museum.
Notes:
[1] Griffin lent the work to the Museum in 1966 (L.1966.189).
