Museo Rufino Tamayo

One of Mexico's most famous 20th century artists, Rufino Tamayo was a native of Oaxaca.  The Rufino Tamayo Museum houses not the paintings and lithographs and prints for which Tamayo became renowned, but instead showcases his personal collection of ancient artifacts of pre-Hispanic Mexico.  Before the time of the conquistadores, Mexico was not a land of just one culture, but was home to many different cultures, languages, and peoples.  Although the Aztecs are the best known, there were hundreds of other groups spread throughout what is modern-day Mexico, from the deserts in the northwest, through the central valleys, to the jungles and rain forests of the Yucatan and the south. 

Tamayo collected many artifacts before the days when archeological digs were carefully controlled .  and monitored.  The collection reflects Tamayo's interest in the artistic and aesthetic rather than the anthropological or archeological record.  Although many of the works have religious significance, for example, there is little commentary on that aspect, and more on the artistic development and influences within each region.  It is a fascinating museum, and was well worth the two or so hours I spent there.  Here are a few of the objects that particularly caught my eye:

This is a display case of ceramic dogs I liked:

Many of the figures are either depictions of the god(s) of death or funerary urns for use in the ceremony and rituals the pre-hispanic peoples.

These bas-reliefs were also quite exciting to see: 

The collection, which Tamayo donated to the city of his birth, is housed in a truly beautiful 17th century building.   Like many of the finer homes of that era, the rooms are arranged around a central courtyard, which is now a flower garden.