Serena Usileña

NameMermaid sculpture

Artist Magdalena Pedro Martínez

Date2012

Place madeSan Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

MediumCeramic (blackware), glue

DimensionsAssembled: 11 7/16 × 11 1/4 × 6 9/16 in. (29 × 28.5 × 16.7 cm)
a) Mermaid: 10 5/8 × 12 3/8 × 6 7/8 in. (27 × 31.5 × 17.5 cm)
b) Shell: 2 3/16 × 5 1/8 × 4 1/4 in. (5.5 × 13 × 10.8 cm)
c) Pot with fish: 1 15/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 7/8 in. (5 × 4.9 × 4.8 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds from JoAnn and Bob Balzer, 2012.

Object numberA.2012.63.1a-c

DescriptionBlackware ceramic mermaid a) sits on a seashell b) and holds a pot c) in her hands which holds a fish and three round objects. All three pieces have both matte and burnished (shiny) black surfaces. The mermaid wears an elaborately embroidered long dress with a large diamond on the bodice, two necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Her hair is braided and piled high on her head, and has dangles attached which hang over her shoulders. Signed on back of dress and bottom of shell "Magdalena Pedro Mtz, 2012" and titled "Serena Usileña".