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Ecuador Figurine Drawing Collection
MS.1308
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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Ecuador Figurine Drawing collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.1308
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date: undated
Abstract: The collection is comprised of 160 photocopies of drawings that depict figurines, which were likely produced by the Jama Coaque
(200 B.C.–800 A.D.) culture in the province of Manabí in Ecuador. The date that the photocopies were made is unknown. In the
pre-Columbian era, the Manabí region was inhabited by many cultures who produced ceramic figurines, including the Bahia, Jama
Coaque, Guangala and Tolita/Tumaco cultures. Although ceramics from these cultures share some resemblances, the figurines
depicted in this collection most closely resemble those of the Jama Coaque culture.
Language of Material:
English
.
Original order has been retained. The sets are collated with the drawings in numerical order according to the numbering on
the labels.
The collection is comprised of 160 photocopies of drawings that depict figurines, which were likely produced by the Jama Coaque
(200 B.C.–800 A.D.) culture in the province of Manabí in Ecuador.
There are two identical sets of drawings with each set consisting of 80 sheets. Most sheets contain labels with handwritten
notes in Spanish listing the number of the figurine and geographic locations. All the labels list the province Manabí and
either Cojimies or Pedernales, which are coastal cities in Manabí, Ecuador. The labels also contain a third location, which
may be the name of an archeological site.
Ecuador Figurine Drawings, undated, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.1308.
In the pre-Columbian era, the Manabí region was inhabited by many cultures who produced ceramic figurines, including the Bahia,
Jama Coaque, Guangala and Tolita/Tumaco cultures. Although ceramics from these cultures share some resemblances, the figurines
depicted in this collection most closely resemble those of the Jama Coaque culture. Figures produced by the Jama Coaque were
more elaborately decorated than those of other cultures in the region during this period. Jama Coaque figurines were decorated
with fine carving and painted in many colors, with many figures wearing ceremonial garments, crowns, pendants and collars.
Jama Coaque figurines were often made from molds and had an average height of seven to twelve inches. Figurines frequently
depicted warriors, musicians, hunters, dancers, or zoomorphic figures. Although some Jama Coaque figurines were attached to
vessels, most were freestanding.
References:
Estrada, Emilio.
Prehistoria de Manabi. Guayaquil, Ecuador: Editorial Vida, 1957.
Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. "Directory of cities, towns, and regions in Ecuador." http://www.fallingrain.com/world/EC/ (Accessed
August 17, 2008).
Porras G., Pedro I.
Nuestro ayer: manual de arqueología ecuatoriana. Quito, Ecuador: Centro de Investigaciones Arquelógicas, 1987.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Initial processing and finding aid completed by Krystal Appiah, 2008. Final processing completed by Anna Liza Posas 2012 October
17. Final processing of collection and publication of finding aid made possible by a grant from the National Historical Publications
and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Donor unknown, acquired by the Braun Research Library before 2008.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jama Coaque culture
Drawings
Photocopies
Indians of South America -- Ecuador
Manabi (Ecuador)
Ecuador -- Antiquities
Cojimies (Ecuador)
Pedernales (Ecuador)