Vessel with water bird and hieroglyphic text
Not on view
A Maya artist of the Late Classic Period (ca. A.D. 650–900) hand built this hemispherical ceramic drinking cup out of orange-brown clay from the northern Yucatan Peninsula. Before firing, the surface of the clay was gouged and incised to create a cartouche enclosing a water bird (perhaps cormorant or a heron) grasping an object, and a diagonal band of six hieroglyphic text blocks. The dark brown mineral slip and style of carving are characteristic of a ceramic style known as Chocholá, named after a small town in the northern Yucatan Peninsula from which similar vessels reportedly came.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
