Fragment of a ‘Host’ Figure

This fragment is called a host figure to suggest its relationship with the small figurine hosted inside its chest cavity. The small figurine would have been completely hidden by a chest plate, now lost. What such figures were used for and what they meant remains a mystery. The host figure, likely carved by hand, displays the refined features of a Teotihuacan face without any extraneous details or adornments. The smaller figurine’s face, likely made by mold, is surrounded by an elaborate headdress and attire. These contrasting techniques suggest the artful blend of opposing tendencies, useful for bonding a potentially conflicted urban population.