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Cylinder vessel

7th–9th century
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
The surreal creatures that populate these vessels—a man decapitating himself; a jaguar set on fire while standing on his front legs—pertain to the realm of dreams and spirits that manifest while sleeping. Indeed, captions on each vessel identify the characters as way (dreams) belonging to lords of specific cities. These images relate to acts of sorcery—powerful people could harness them to inflict sickness and damage on their enemies.


Vasija cilíndrica
Guatemala o México
Siglo VII al IX
Cerámica, pigmento

Las criaturas surrealistas que muestra esta vasija –un hombre que se decapita a sí mismo, un jaguar en llamas parado sobre sus patas delanteras– pertenecen al ámbito de los sueños o seres que se manifiestan mientras se duerme. De hecho, las anotaciones en este recipiente identifican a los personajes como way (sueños) que pertenecían a los señores de ciudades específicas. Estos seres se relacionan con actos de brujería; es decir, que podían ser utilizados por poderosas personas para provocar enfermedades o dañar a sus enemigos.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Cylinder vessel
  • Date: 7th–9th century
  • Geography: Guatemala or Mexico
  • Culture: Maya
  • Medium: Ceramic, pigment
  • Dimensions: Diameter at top: 18.1 × 10.8 cm (7 1/8 × 4 1/4 in.) Diameter at base: 9.93 cm (3 15/16 in.)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Vessels
  • Credit Line: Yale University Art Gallery, Gift of Dicey Taylor, Ph.D. 1983, and Justin Kerr
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing