01 Photograph Gallery

02 Object Information

Description

Polychrome vase decorated with a palace scene that refers to an event in which the ruler Tayel Chan K’inich, of Motul de San José (Ik site) appears on a bench in the company of two other courtiers. A seated dignitary offers a vase and another stands behind.

In the palace there are curtains hanging from the ceiling, vessels with food and a plate painted with a jaguar skin design, full of tamales.

Several painted vessels show this ruler or Lord drinking pulque and in association with food (Dorie Reents-Budet and Guido Krempel, com. pers).

Transcription:

The hieroglyphic text says the following:

u-BA-hi *ti-*chi-*hi *ta-*ye-le? *CHAN-*na?-*K’INICH K’UH-IK’-AJAW-wa

u baah ti chih tayel chan k’inich k’uhul ik’ ajaw

“This is his image with pulque, Tayel Chan K’inich, Divine Lord of Ik’ (Motul de San José)”.

(Transcription by epigrapher Guido Krempel, University of Bonn, Germany, 2024)

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: 16 cm
Diameter: 9 cm

03 References and Exhibitions

References to similar objects

Other examples that have been found reveal that Tayel Chan K’inich – who ruled around 734 AD – was very active in diplomatic life. Several vessels, in which he has been identified, show him drinking pulque and eating in the company of other dignitaries.

This piece can be compared with MS 0651 (Maya Survey Project; Dorie Reents-Budet).

Exhibitions

1. Financiera de Occidente (October 2010 – April 2011)

2. “THE WORLD OF THE MAYAN ARTIST.” Spanish Cooperation Training Center. Antigua Guatemala (February 3 – June 16, 2013)

3. “THE WORLD OF THE MAYAN ARTIST.” Casa N’oj Cultural Center, Quetzaltenango (August 12- September 6, 2013).

4. “TREASURES OF THE MAYA SPIRIT”. LA Art & Antique Show. LA Convention Center, California (January 4-9, 2014)

5. “FLAVORS OF MESOAMERICA: The Pre-Columbian origin of regional gastronomy.” Spanish Cooperation Training Center, Antigua Guatemala (August 14, 2014 – January 5, 2015)

6. “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)
Alicante Archaeological Museum, MARQ, Spain (May 25, 2017-January 7, 2018)

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

8. “MASTERWORKS BY THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIST.” Santo Domingo del Cerro Cultural Center, Antigua Guatemala (from December 2019 to February 2, 2022)

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

10. “MASTERWORKS BY THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIST.” La Ruta Maya Foundation, Guatemala City (Since November 6, 2024 )

Publications

1. “Presentation of the World of the Mayan Artist.” El Quetzalteco Newspaper. Wednesday, August 14, 2013. Page 11.

2. “Pre-Hispanic Culture Shines”. Cultural Section of Prensa Libre. Tuesday, February 5, 2013. Page 46.

3. “A Look at the Mayan Artist.” El Periódico newspaper. Monday February 11, 2013.

4. “The Flavors of Mesoamerica on Exhibition in Antigua Guatemala” Siglo XXI Newspaper. August 22, 2014.