Shapes and Forms: Figures

Circus performer, tattooed and pierced
Tattooed and pierced circus performer, Virgil Ortiz, Cochiti
14.5 in H by 11 in Dia
Carved head and legs and Paquime designs on the body of a black on black javelina
Black on black javelina with a carved head and legs and body decorated with Paquimé designs, Nicolas Ortiz, Mata Ortiz
6.75 in H by 10 in Dia
Frog figure in black and white
Black and white frog figure, Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano, Cochiti/Santo Domingo
3.75 in H by 10 in Dia
Polychrome Tesuque Rain God
Tesuque Rain God
6.25 in H by 4.25 in Dia

Figures, figurines and effigies have played a role in Native American pottery for thousands of years. However, the religious laws of some pueblos don't allow for the creation of figures or effigies by their potters. In other pueblos, more figures are made than any other kind of pottery. At Tesuque Pueblo, it was the creation of thousands and thousands of Rain God figures for Anglo traders that virtually ended all pottery making in the pueblo.

Many of the figures produced at Mata Ortiz are influenced by pots made long ago in the Paquimé and Casas Grandes area, many of which show influence from Mogollon sources to the north and from Aztec and Mayan sources to the south.

Red and black bird element designs on a yellow ware bird effigy pot
Yellow ware bird effigy pot decorated with red and black bird element and geometric design, by Jean Sahme, Hopi-Tewa
5.75 in H by 7.25 in Dia
Three children, butterfly, lizard and puppy on a turtle storyteller
Turtle storyteller with three children, lizard, butterfly and puppy, by Marilyn Ray Lewis, Acoma
5.5 in H by 6.75 in Dia
Two-headed tattoed polychrome circus performer
Polychrome two-headed tattooed circus performer, by Mary Janice Ortiz, Cochiti
13 in H by 9 in Dia
Corn Maiden figure from Nambe Pueblo
Micaceous black Corn Maiden figure, by Robert Vigil, Nambe
13 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Mud woman with a pot
Mud woman with a pot
13.75 in H by 14.75 in L by 12.5 in W, by Roxanne Swentzell, Santa Clara
Tablita, butterfly, bird, lady bug and a geometric design on a polychrome Corn Maiden
Polychrome Corn Maiden with tablita, bird, butterfly, lady bug and geometric design, by Judy Lewis, Acoma
4.25 in H by 2 in Dia
Two children riding a horse figure
A horse figure with 2 children on its back, by Leonard Tsosie, Jemez
7.5 in H by 7.25 in Dia
Geometric design on a black-on-black dinosaur figure
Black-on-black dinosaur figure decorated with a geometric design, by Marta Gonzalez, Mata Ortiz
4 in H by 8.25 in Dia
Polychrome parrot effigy jar with a bird element and geometric design
A bird element and geometric design on a parrot effigy pot, by Rachel Sahmie, Hopi
6.5 in L by 4 in W by 4.5 in H
An ancient parrot effigy found in the ruins at Valdivia, Ecuador, and made between 4000 and 1500 BCE
Parrot effigy found in ancient ruins near Valdivia, Ecuador
Dated to between 4000 and 1500 BCE
Photos from Valdivia, Ecuador are in the public domain.
An ancient jaguar effigy found in the ruins at Valdivia, Ecuador, and made between 4000 and 1500 BCE
Jaguar effigy found in ancient ruins near Valdivia, Ecuador
Dated to between 4000 and 1500 BCE
Note the spiral tail

Shapes and Forms