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Cylinder vase
Maya
Late Classic Period
A.D. 650–850
Object Place: Guatemala, Petén lowlands
Medium/Technique
Earthenware: red, orange, and black on light orange slip paint
Dimensions
29.8 x 15.1 cm (11 3/4 x 5 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of John B. Fulling
Accession Number1987.713
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsCeramics – Pottery – Earthenware
Catalogue Raisonné
MS1086
DescriptionVessel is painted with a scene depicting an elderly supernatural being carried on a waterlily effigy litter supported by four small humanoid supernaturals. A standing human figure offers to the elderly personage a dish whose contents are too eroded to identify. Behind the elderly supernatural are four seated musicians playing maracas, a hand drum, and a turtle shell. Below them are five supernatural beings, four of whom are skelelal humanoids and one a fleshed gopher-like creature. All five have pinwheel-like motifs instead of legs. A Primary Standard Sequence hieroglyphic text encircles the upper rim, its introductory two glyphs being very unusual, eroded, and repainted in modern times. Most of the vessel's imagery has been repainted in modern times, especially the black outlines on the upper half of the vase.
ProvenanceAbout 1971-1973, purchased in Guatemala by John B. Fulling (b. 1924 – d. 2005), Lighthouse Point, Florida; 1987, year-end gift of John B. Fulling to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 20, 1988)