Tripod cylinder vase
A.D. 650–780
Object PlaceMotul de San José area, Department of El Petén, Guatemala
Medium/TechniqueEarthenware with red, orange, black and rose on white slip decoration
DimensionsOverall: 17.1 x 11.9 cm (6 3/4 x 4 11/16 in.)
Credit LineGift of Lavinia and Landon T. Clay
Accession number2003.777
On View
Not on viewClassificationsCeramics
Collections
This vase features a ritual blood sacrifice and a vision-quest dance performance by Yajawte' K'inich, ruler of the Ik' polity. The performers' fantastic garb may portray their spirit companions. The text on the tall vase records the performance's date on 7 Ok 13 Xul (May 25, 749) and states that Yajawte' K'inich danced as his "jaguar throne," the name of his spirit companion. His two associates wear equally fanciful costumes portraying a jaguar/centipede and a jaguar/eagle.
ProvenanceBy the late 1970s, Lavinia and Landon T. Clay, New Hampshire; 2003, year-end gift of Lavinia and Landon T. Clay to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 21, 2004)
AD 650–800
A.D. 600–750
1300–1521
A.D. 550–850
A.D. 700–800
A.D. 700–800
A.D. 650–800
A.D. 680–750
A.D. 600–750
A.D. 350-550
A.D. 350–550
AD 400–500