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Maya Vessel

Figure 42 Vessel, Palace Scene, 7th–8th century;
artist: Unknown Mayan
Ceramic, Height: 6 5/8in. (16.8cm), Diameter: 4 5/16in. (11cm);
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York), The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1967, 1978.412.202 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.

Object/Work🔺

  • Catalog Level:🔺 item (value type: controlled list)
  • _Type:_🔺 vessel (value type: authority)

Classification🔺

  • Terms:🔺
    ceramics
    Pre-Columbian art (value type: controlled list)

Titles or Names🔺

  • Text:🔺 Vessel, Palace Scene (value type: free text)
    Preference: preferred (value type: controlled list)
    Type: repository

Creation🔺

  • Creator Description:🔺 unknown Maya (value type: free text)

  • Identity:🔺 unknown Maya (_value type: authority)
    Role:🔺 artist

  • Creation Date:🔺 7th to 8th century (value type: free text)
    Earliest:🔺 601 AD Latest:🔺 800 AD (value type: controlled format)

  • Creation Place/Original Location: Yucatán (Mexico) (value type: authority)

Measurements🔺

  • Dimensions Description:🔺 height: 16.8 cm (6 5/8 in.); diameter: 11 cm (4 5/16 in.) (value type: free text)

  • Value: 16.8 Unit: cm Type: height
    Value: 11 Unit: cm Type: diameter (value type: controlled format and controlled lists)

Materials and Techniques🔺

  • Description:🔺 terracotta (value type: free text)

  • Material Name: tempera (value type: authority)
    Technique Name: vase painting (value type: authority)

Subject Matter🔺

  • Indexing Terms:🔺
    object (utilitarian)
    ceremonial object
    palace
    royality
    elite (value type: authority)

Descriptive Note

  • Text: This is an example of a straight-sided ceramic vessel with painted decorations of complex scenes, common in 8th-century Maya art. The vessel was likely made from local clay and painted with a white or orange slip to serve as its background color. The artist then painted designs on the vessel’s surface with mineral-pigmented slips before firing it in an open pit. The vessel’s meticuously painted designs may serve to commemorate a Maya ruler and/or portray the lives of Maya elite. Like most Maya ceramics, this vessel perhaps served as a ceremonial drinking cup, a burial offering, or a gift. (value type: free text)

  • Citation: The Met Collection online (value type: authority)
    Page: accessed 16 July 2024 (value type: free text)

  • Citation: The Cleveland Museum of Art online
    Page: accessed 16 July 2024

  • Citation: Denver Art Museum online
    Page: accessed 16 July 2024

Current Location🔺

  • Repository Name/Geographic Location:🔺 The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York, United States)
    Repository Numbers:🔺 1978.412.202 (value type: free text)

NOTE: 🔺 indicates a core CDWA category.

Revised 23 July 2024
by Emily Benoff

Figure 42 Vessel, Palace Scene, 7th–8th century;
artist: Unknown Mayan
Ceramic, Height: 6 5/8in. (16.8cm), Diameter: 4 5/16in. (11cm);
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York), The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1967, 1978.412.202 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.