Famous Acrobat

6 aprile 2026

For some time, the temporary display case in our museum will be reserved for an old and intriguing object. This figure, in an acrobatic pose with his leg behind his neck, was made almost 2,000 years ago by a skilled potter in Mexico. The feather headdress, earplugs, and beaded necklace lead experts to associate it with the Totonac people. Only when you examine the back do you discover it's a pipe, with the extended leg serving as a stem and mouthpiece. For decades, this object was a crowd-pleaser at the Niemeyer Tobacco Museum, but since its closure in Groningen, the acrobat has been living in Amsterdam. On display until the beginning of June.

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