Pendant Depicting the Fat God
CultureOlmec
Date1200-800 B.C.E.
MediumCarved bone with red pigment traces
DimensionsOverall: 1 3/4 × 1 15/16 × 1 1/16 inches (4.45 × 4.92 × 2.7 cm)
Credit LineAnonymous gift
Object number81-56
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionFine yellowed bone head of an Olmec deity with a hollowed-out back, fat cheeks, closed eyes symbolizing death, suspension holes at the top, and with a drilled hole in the back, which could have been used to store a substance used by the shaman in a religious ritual.
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information,
is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete.
Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a
particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum.
If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image,
please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.