Female Figure

ClassificationsSculpture

Culture Yuma

Datec. 1880

Made AtArizona, United States, North America

MediumClay, pigment, wool cloth, glass bead and reed

Dimensions7 1/4 × 2 5/8 × 1 3/4 in. (18.4 × 6.7 × 4.4 cm)

Credit LineGift of Julia Rounds Colborn and Chase Charles Colborn

Object number86.17.14

DescriptionThis female figure was made by the Yuma people primarily residing in Arizona, c. 1880. Yuma dolls of painted pottery resemble prehistoric Hokokam clay figurines and suggest a link between the modern and prehistoric peoples of the desert. Originally collected by Eugene Field, this figure was exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Notable physical features include:
Ceramic covered in white slip with red designs on the face and upper body possibly indicative of tattooing. Black horsehair is inserted in a hole on the top of the head and long hair tied with string bands. Eyes cut in oval. Painted black pupils and line around eyes. Two nostrils punched and open oval mouth. Earrings are tied through punched ears, made of extremely small dark blue beads, twisted to form a design. An especially fine costume of shredded bark on the reverse, with red and black wool cording forming a skirt from waist to toes on front of the figure. Left arm broken and missing, left leg broken and repaired some years ago.

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