Highlights From “Infinity of Nations”
A new exhibition explores thousands of years of artwork from the Native nations of North, Central and South America
- By Jess Righthand
- Smithsonian.com, January 04, 2011
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(Walter Larrimore, National Museum of the American Indian)
Valdivia Figurines (The Andes)
Dating back to 3500 B.C., these figurines made by the Valdivia people of Ecuador are the oldest known ceramic pieces in the Western Hemisphere. The mostly female figures were likely symbols of fertility that the Valdivia used in agricultural ceremonies. Each one was sculpted from a single block of clay. The figures tend to have a straight posture, pronounced breasts, shoulders and neck, and a raised head with a small face.
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Comments (4)
I saw many such exhibits at the Field Museum in Chicago and they are really nice. It's too bad these are in New York and I saw nothing like them at the Smithsonian. The Native American exhibits were quite disappointing.
Posted by Jerry Tennant on January 29,2011 | 11:34 AM
Again smithsonian never ever lets you down....I wish I were there when they were being created...would make me very very old....thank you smithsonian
Posted by pat jones on January 28,2011 | 01:43 PM
Wish I could visit it! It must be a fascinating exhibition.
Posted by Itziar Rey Perez De Pipaon on January 6,2011 | 11:00 AM
Maravilhosa Arte!!!
lindo,lindo,lindo.....
Bravo!!
Simplismente Arte...
Posted by Ana Claudia Jatahy on January 5,2011 | 06:09 PM