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Ethnic Sculpture

History and Symbolism

Ethnic Artifacts: Sculpture

Sculpture of all sorts is a highly collectible category of artworks. As we move ever closer to a true global culture, there has been a decided upswing in the American market for collectible items from around the world.

Sculpture has long played an important role in societies around the world, especially in temples and churches and other religious settings.

Here is a brief explanation of popular sculptures in three ancient cultures – Egypt, Africa and South America.

Egypt

Egyptian sculptures followed a highly regulated set of guidelines from which artists were not permitted to deviate.

For example, no nudity was permitted except in statues of children and servants. Men were to be crafted from darker materials than women.

Unless a figure was a god or a pharaoh, it was to be carved in a seated position, arms tight to the sides and hands resting on the knees.

No sense of movement was permitted, and figures were generally blocky and heavyset.

Sculptures were crafted in both stone and gold, with gold generally reserved for statues of the gods and the pharaohs.

Although much of the emphasis was on imposing statuary, many of which still stand today, the Egyptians also created numerous smaller pieces. These items were displayed as religious or decorative pieces and often buried with their owners.

Africa

In contrast to the blocky, still figures of Egyptian sculpture; African sculptures were generally very fluid.

The focus was on abstract rather than realistic portrayals of human and animal forms. A strong sense of movement was generally present.

African artworks in general prized three dimensional rather than two dimensional works, and even clothing design was often crafted to give the appearance that the wearer was a sort of living statue.

Sculptures of all sizes were created, from tiny yet intricate pieces to extremely large statuary.

South America

All three of the major South American cultures, the Inca, Mayan and Aztec, were highly gifted artisans.

Many of the secrets of these mystical peoples have not yet been revealed. However, we do know that they were talented in the creation of sculptures of all sizes and styles.

Most of the Incas’ extraordinary gold and silver statues were melted down by Spanish conquerors, but several smaller versions still exist. These figures were often completely dressed, mostly obscuring the precious metal or stone beneath.

They believed strongly in the inherent powers of stone and precious metals, and crafted their figures from these materials for their power, not as a sign of wealth.

Most of the Aztec sculptures depicted their religious faith.

However, they also crafted highly detailed small figures of humans and animals in obsidian, jade and quartz. The most famous Aztec sculpture is the calendar stone. Weighing an astonishing 22 metric tons, this highly detailed and accurate stone is a true marvel of engineering.

The Mayans appear to have used sculpture, particularly their refined relief techniques, to record dates and important events of the time. Females played a strong role in Mayan art, particularly in clay figurines.

Throughout history, sculpture has been an important means of paying homage to the gods, recording events or simply celebrating the human or animal form. Sculptures have varied widely from culture to culture, creating an endless array of possibilities for the modern collector.

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