This Veracruz ceramic head, dating to the Classic Period (circa 250–900 CE), is a fragment from a larger figure, once part of the vibrant sculptural tradition of ancient coastal Veracruz. Though now detached from its body, the head retains striking detail—possibly including a finely modeled face, elaborate headdress, or ear ornaments—hallmarks of the Remojadas or Classic Veracruz style, which emphasized expressive, animated forms.
Fragments like this were often recovered from ceremonial or funerary contexts, where larger figures served as ritual objects or offerings to accompany the dead. The head’s strong features and formal presence suggest it may have represented a deity, ancestor, or elite figure, once meant to communicate power, identity, or transformation. Despite its fragmentary state, this piece remains a powerful window into the aesthetic and spiritual world of Classic Veracruz culture, valued today for both its artistic merit and cultural significance. This piece came from the estate of a faculty member at UCSB.
Condition: Broken from larger figure, chips to face. Back broken and missing pieces and reassembled
