Two Chupícuaro Figurines Late Preclassic, 300-100 B.C.

comprising a mother holding her infant to her hip, its hands placed to its mouth, and a male figure with arms to the side and wearing belt with shell attached on the front, possibly a cache-sex, necklace and earrings and flat topped coiffure.

D. Daniel Michel Collection, Chicago, acquired in 1957

Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, 1959, temporary loan 
Chicago, Primitive Art from Chicago Collections, The Art Institute of Chicago, Autumn, 1960, text by Alan Wardwell, figs. 6a and 6b

Woman with Baby: overall fine condition; infant and mother both look intact. Figure with large belt: also excellent condition.
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Chupícuaro figures are distinctive for the exuberant display of ritual and domestic clothing, body ornaments and headdress styles made in the pastillaje technique. These lively figures are one of the few records of the perishable but important accoutrements of the Preclassic agricultural communities of Michoacán and Guanajuato in western Mexico.  See Rosshandler (1971:67) for similar figurines.