Seated Figure Vessel
Tall, seated figure vessels of this type have been found in deep Andean shaft and chamber tombs on both sides of the Colombia/Ecuador border. The figure's barrel-shaped erect body, lacking elaboration of anatomical detail, forms the container. The vessel opening is at the top of the head. Closely cropped hair frames the small face. The slight tilt of the head conveys a sense of animation, while the modeled half-open eyes and mouth suggest serenity. The figure's legs, worked in deep relief, are pulled up against the body and the projecting feet have no indication of toes. The spindling arms—the elbows resting on the knees and the hands held on the chest—are modeled three-dimensionally, the upper arms, perhaps, having served as handles. The burnished surface of the face and body is decorated with black-on-red resist patterns of crosshatching, concentric diamonds, and stepped frets.
Artwork Details
- Title: Seated Figure Vessel
- Date: 9th–15th century
- Geography: Ecuador
- Culture: Capulí
- Medium: Ceramic
- Dimensions: H. 19 x Diam. 10 1/2 in. (48.3 x 26.7 cm)
- Classification: Ceramics-Containers
- Credit Line: Gift of Peggy and Tessim Zorach, 1988
- Object Number: 1988.117.11
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Valdivia
2200–2000 BCE
Manteño artist(s)
8th–12th century
Manteño artist(s)
800–1450 CE
Bahía artist(s)
250 BCE–450 CE
Manteño artist(s)
800–1450 CE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.