
In the afterlife, it was the role of deceased noble ancestors to communicate with the deified forces of nature on behalf of their people. Presented as offerings at ancestral shrines, mold-made figures of this kind were sometimes reshaped while the clay was still moist to give them more individualized facial features.

Figure of a Standing Warrior
Nopiloa South-central Veracruz, Mexico

Self-Portrait
Walter Shirlaw (American, 1838–1909)

Martin Vanden Bogaert Desjardins
Gérard Edelinck (French, born Flanders, 1640-1707) after Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659-1743)

Remembrance of Italy
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (French, 1796-1875) printed by Auguste Delâtre (French, 1822-1907) published by Cadart et Chavalier, Editeurs (French, 1801-1900)