Artwork
Jade Object
Artist
Unknown
DepartmentLatin American Art
CultureMixtec
Dateca. A.D. 700-1400
Dimensions1 13/16 × 9/16 × 5/8 in. (4.6 × 1.4 × 1.6 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. Christine Fulwile
Object number70.2.3.d
GeographyPlace madeOaxaca, Mexico
General regionNorth and Central America
DescriptionGreenstone standing figurine thicker in middle and tapering to top and bottom. Incisions for features and headband. Hands folded over abdomen. Large gouges on rear.Label TextThis carved greenstone figurine is referred to as a “penate” and is attributed to the Mixtec culture. Penates are typically prismatic of cuboid in shape and have on them a carved anthropomorphic figure in a seated position. The individual depicted could be an important ancestor, but their identity is not completely clear. Their use and purposes are also unclear. Were they part of ceremonial tool kits for religious practitioners? Perhaps they were a talisman? Or maybe used in houses as a religious icon?Provenancewith Christine Fulwile (1917-1983), Loredo, TX, by 1969; by gift to the Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX; by transfer to the San Antonio Museum of Art, 1994On view
Collections
A.D. 800-1500
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
