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San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Smiling Face
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Contact us at copyright@samuseum.org for rights and reproduction of this image.

Smiling Face

Artist Unknown
DepartmentLatin American Art
CultureRejomadas
Dateca. A.D. 550-950
MediumEarthenware
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern
Object number67.129.92
Geography
Place madeVeracruz, Mexico
General regionNorth and Central America
DescriptionHead portion of a "smiling" figure type common to the Veracruz region. The hat depicted has two scroll motifs, which are different from the more common hat motifs that depict scenes of people or animals. Large oval/circle earrings are appliqued to the ears. The figure has the typical blank eyes and smile for this type of figurine.Label Text“Smiling” figures are part of a long tradition of mold-made, hollow ceramic figures created in Veracruz. They stand out in Mesoamerican art because of the rarity of smiles. Each smiling figure is unique in the decoration of clothing and adornments. Scholars have suggested figures like this one may represent children, persons with dwarfism, or supernatural beings. The few “smiling” figures recovered from archaeological contexts demonstrate that they were used in activities that took place in major ceremonial centers and funerary contexts. (Bernadette, 2020)Provenancewith Mrs. Jeannette Petter de Werthern (1887-1991), Kettering, OH, by 1967; by donation to the Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX, 1967; by transfer to the San Antonio Museum of Art, 1994Published ReferencesKelker, Nancy L, and San Antonio Museum Association. America before Columbus: Pre-Columbian Art in the Collection of the San Antonio Museum Association (San Antonio: San Antonio Museum Association, 1985), 125.
On view
Collections
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Smiling Face
Unknown
Culture: Remojadas
c. A.D. 550 - 950
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Smiling Face
Unknown
Culture: Remojadas
ca. A.D. 550-950
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Smiling Figure
Unknown
Culture: Veracruz
ca. A.D. 550-950
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Male Figure
Unknown
Culture: Nayarit
ca. 200 B.C.-A.D. 300
Purchased with funds provided by Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Seated Figure of Buddha
Culture: Chinese
15th-16th century
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. J. P. de Werthern.
Head with Tears
Unknown
ca. A.D. 500
Image Not Available for Standing Human Figure
Standing Human Figure
Unknown
Culture: Chupicuaro
ca. 500-100 B.C.
Bequest of Elizabeth Huth Coates.
Whistle Vessel
Unknown
Culture: Recuay
ca. A.D. 500
Gift of Mrs. A.A. Seeligson, Sr.
Seated Female Nursing Baby
Unknown
Culture: Jalisco
ca. 200 B.C.-A.D. 300
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Female with Double Face
Unknown
Culture: Tlatilco
ca. 700 B.C.
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Head with Fancy Headdress
Unknown
Culture: Remojadas
ca. A.D. 550-950
Gift of Mrs. A. A. Seeligson, Sr.
Figure with Arms Extended
Unknown
Culture: Veracruz
ca. A.D. 300-500

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.

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