01 Photograph Gallery

02 Object Information

Description

Polychrome vase with a procession of nine (9) characters in left profile. The main character is carried in a hammock or palanquin on the shoulders of two (2) porters. Under the hammock walks a dog that accompanies the group.

None of them is armed and all, including the main character, wear wide-brimmed hats, which could identify them as merchants. The rest of the six (6) companions are probably his assistants, with only one of them with his body painted in black.

Whoever follows the rear-guard porter walks with the help of a cane carrying a bundle lined with jaguar skin on his back. The one behind him carries what appears to be a long trumpet decorated with ribbons and a round fan.

The remaining four (4) characters carry what could be banners. They all wear hipcloths painted red and only the main carácter -and the one with the body painted black- wear hats with an animal head on top.

* Verapaz area bordering the Lowlands.

Period

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

Provenance

Guatemalan Highlands

Medium / Material

Clay

Technique

Modeled, Painting, Slip

Dimensions

Height: 17 cm
Diameter: 17.5 cm

03 References and Exhibitions

References to similar objects

Vases with similar themes:

Ratinlixul Vase (MS 1729). Mesoamerican Gallery of the University of Pennsylvania Museum. It was excavated by Robert Burkitt in 1917 in Chamá, Alta Verapaz, a site within the coffee plantation owned by Erwin Diesseldorf, who was a friend of Burkitt. His findings, including this vase, were sent to the University of Pennsylvania.

Photo by Justin Kerr K594 on www.mayavase.com and drawing by Alexander Tokovinine online at: https://www.mayavase.com/still/594draw.jpg 

The Nebaj Vase. Heye collection, Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution. Photo by Justin Kerr K7613 on www.mayavase.com

The Procession Vase. Private collection (drawing in Danien, 1997) and photo by Justin Kerr K6317 in The Maya Vase Book, Volume 6 p. 960 and online at www.mayavase.com

Procession Vase (MS 1793). Private collection (drawing in Danien, 1997) and photo by Justin Kerr K5534 in The Maya Vase Book, Volume 6 p.933 and online at www.mayavase.com

To read more:

– Danien, Elin. 1997. “The Ritual of the Ratinlixul Vase: Pots and Politics in Highland Guatemala” in EXPEDITION (Volume 39, No. 3)

– Kerr, Justin. Revised October, 2001. “THE LAST JOURNEY, Reflections on the Ratinlinxul Vase and others of the same theme”. Online: https://www.mayavase.com/jour/journey.html

– Les Maitres de L´art Precolombien. La Collection Dora Et Paul Janssen. Page 129.

Exhibitions

1. “MAYA: RULERS OF THE RAINFOREST”
Drents Museum, Assen, Netherlands (February 28 – September 4, 2016)
Historisches Museum der Pfalz, Speyer, Germany (October 2, 2016 – April 23, 2018)
Archaeological Museum of Alicante, MARQ, Spain (May 25, 2017 – January 7, 2018)

2. “MAYAS IN SANTO DOMINGO DEL CERRO”. Santo Domingo del Cerro Cultural Center, Antigua Guatemala (August 16, 2018 – April 20, 2019)

3. “MASTERPIECES OF THE PRE-HISPANIC ARTIST”. Santo Domingo del Cerro Cultural Center, Antigua Guatemala (from December 2019 to February 2, 2022)

4. “MAYA: THE GREAT JAGUAR RISES” (2nd. Tour) Kansas City Union Station (August 2022- March, 2023) and California Science Center (April-September, 2023)

5. “MASTERWORKS BY THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIST.” La Ruta Maya Foundation, Guatemala City (November 6, 2024 to May 31st, 2025)

 

Publications

Paredes Maury, Sofia. October 2015. “The Mayas: The Art of Hunting”. PUBLIRUTA (24th edition). National Radio Consortium, CRN. Guatemala. Pages 6 and 7