Figurines: Mesoamerica

Ceramic figurines form a central corpus of ancient Mesoamerican art, appearing with virtually every culture and time period of Mesoamerican history. Because they were ever‐present and found primarily in domestic contexts, they inform us about a wide array of daily human activities and everyday beliefs, in contrast to most scenes in elite murals and monumental sculpture. In particular, they inform us about ancient notions of sexuality, not only because of their widespread distribution but also due to the variety of human images they represent. From the first appearance of figurines in the Early Formative period to the time of Spanish contact in the sixteenth century, many figurines emphasize female secondary sexual characteristics and local ideas regarding gender‐based roles and responsibilities, including a plethora of nubile and comely females with enlarged breasts, voluptuous hips, and appealing or suggestive poses.