01 Photograph Gallery

02 Object Information

Description

Polychrome vase decorated with a horizontal band of pseudoglyphs and a scene with six (6) figures in left profile.

The main scene, which covers the entire wall, depicts a procession in which three (3) young women alternate with three old men.

The women are probably representations of the Moon Goddess. Their attire consist of long, richly decorated ankle-length dresses or huipiles, with slits in the back, as well as mantles and headdresses of cloth and feathers. They are notable for having their faces and arms decorated with paint or tattoos. A very curious feature is that the dresses appear to have an opening in the back. One of the women may have tattoos or body paint on her buttocks, which are visible through the opening in her dress.

The elderly men, painted with dark skin, could be representations of  the Old God. They wear a red maxtatl or hip cloth as well as cloth headdresses with feathers.

*Similar scenes have been interpreted as being part of enema rituals.

Period

CLASSIC (150/200 A.D.-900 A.D.) Late Classic (650-900 AD).

Provenance

Maya Lowlands

Medium / Material

Clay

Technique

Modeled, Painting, Slip

Dimensions

Height: 23.5 cm
Diameter: 17 cm

03 References and Exhibitions

References to similar objects

* A vase with the same theme is the polychrome vase with Cultural Property Registry No. 1.2.144.1483 in the custody of La Ruta Maya Foundation.

* A vase with the same theme is vase K956, published by Justin Kerr at https://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=956

* A vase with the same theme is vase K5005 (in the collection of the De Young Museum, San Francisco, CA; with museum number 1988.30.1.) published by Justin Kerr at https://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=5005

Exhibitions

1. “IN THE CURVATURE OF TIME: ART AND WOMEN” organized by the G&T Continental Foundation at the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of Guatemala, along with other collections (September to December 2012)

2. Financiera de Occidente (April – October 2013)

3. Piece exhibited at the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta (October 4, 2015).

4. “THE HUMAN FIGURE AND PRE-COLUMBIAN BODY DECORATION.” Spanish Cooperation Training Center, Antigua Guatemala (August 25, 2016 – February 26, 2017)

5. Vase exhibited in the lobby of the Hyatt Centric Guatemala Hotel from August 2017 to October 7, 2020

6. “THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIST.”  National School of Plastic Arts “Rafael Rodríguez Padilla” (September 7 to October 1, 2021)

Publications

Paredes Maury, Sofía. 2016. “El Arte en la Piel en el Mundo Antiguo”. Revista PubliRuta No. 51 (pg. 6-7). Noviembre-diciembre 2016. Consorcio CRN, Guatemala.