Miniature Figure in the Form of a Bird with Exaggerated Tailfeathers c. 200

This small terracotta sculpture, created by the Colima culture in what is now western Mexico around 200 CE, depicts a stylized bird with exaggerated tailfeathers. The bird, which may represent a quetzal or other bird of paradise, is rendered with simplified, geometric forms and painted with black stripes. The piece is a testament to the Colima's artistic skill and their fascination with the natural world. This figurine, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, is a compelling example of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican art.