Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Photographs of Olmec sculptures, large and small

Can we stipulate to the usual caveats? I'm a poor photographer with a mediocre camera, etc, etc.

Note that many objects I (and the museum) label as "jade" could equally well be jadeite or even other minerals.

Jaguar. Monument 7, San Lorenzo, Veracruz

Colossal head. Monument 2, San Lorenzo, Veracruz.
Colossal head. Monument 2, San Lorenzo, Veracruz. Another view.

Detail. Colossal head. Monument 2, San Lorenzo, Veracruz.

Alvarado Stela. Columnar basalt. Late Olmec. In low relief, it shows a bearded man richly adorned striding toward a captive (not visible in this view).

Alvarado Stela. Detail.

Alvarado Stela. Close up.
Monkey. Monument 12, La Venta, Tabasco.

Monkey. Monument 12, La Venta, Tabasco. Detail.

Monkey. Monument 12, La Venta, Tabasco. Detail.

Seated male (?) holding were-jaguar infant in his arms. Monument 12, San Lorenzo, Tabasco.

Monument 19, La Venta, Tabasco. Seated man (?) holding bag, surrounded by serpent (rattlesnake).

Monument 19, La Venta, Tabasco. Seated man (?) holding bag, surrounded by serpent (rattlesnake).

Monument 19, La Venta, Tabasco. Detail of serpent's head.

Monument 19, La Venta, Tabasco. Detail.

Monument 19, La Venta, Tabasco. Detail.
Olmec ceramic figurine. Middle Preclassic.

Olmec sculpture. Bearded man in "wrestler" pose. "Late" Olmec (600-100 B.C. according to the label)

Another view of the "Wrestler."

Another view of the "Wrestler" showing its three-dimensionality and polyaxiality.

Another view of the "Wrestler" showing its three-dimensionality and polyaxiality.

Ceramic vessel, La Venta, Tabasco. Calzadas Carved? Paw-wing motif?

Ceramic vessel, La Venta, Tabasco. Zoned post-fire incision.

Ceramic vessel, La Venta, Tabasco. Zoned post-fire incision. Detail.

Black-slipped Olmec ceramic vessel. La Venta, Tabasco.



Olmec figurine, female, La Venta, Tabasco.

Olmec figurine, female, La Venta, Tabasco.

Olmec mask.

Olmec jade statuettes,




Olmec jade celt.

Olmec jade.

Olmec jade statuette.

Olmec jades.


Olmec jades from offerings at La Venta, Tabasco.

Olmec jades from offerings at La Venta, Tabasco. Note incised earflares with cinnabar.


Olmec jades from offerings at La Venta, Tabasco. Incised earflare rubbed with cinnabar.

Olmec jades from offerings at La Venta, Tabasco. Incised earflare rubbed with cinnabar.

Olmec jades from offerings at La Venta, Tabasco.


Olmec jade perforator/bloodletter,.

Olmec jades.


Olmec jade statuette.

Olmec jade hands.

Olmec jade hand, close up.


Olmec jades.

Olmec jade earflares.

Olmec mirror.

Olmec jade celts.

Olmec jades.

Olmec jades celts with incised designs.

Olmec jade celts with incised designs accompanied by drawings of the designs.

Detail of Olmec jade celt with incised design.

Detail of Olmec jade celt with incised design.

Olmec jades.

Olmec colossal head. Monument 17, San Lorenzo, Veracruz.