Carved Tripod Vase
| Culture | Maya |
|---|---|
| Title | Carved Tripod Vase |
| Date | 8th century |
| Medium | Clay and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 7 × 5 13/16 in. (17.8 × 14.8 cm) Overall: 7 x 5 13/16 in. (17.8 x 14.8 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 70.53 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
This carved tripod vase is cylindrical, flaring outward slightly toward the top with small holes carved in the feet, which also have rattles. The vessel has a band of carved glyphs near the rim, and a wide band with a carved design around the body of the vessel.
Utilizing glyphs to create the decorations, this vase depicts two identical heads and is believed to depict the deity K’awiil. Maya art is overwhelmingly court art, related to royalty and other members of the elite. With this in mind it is not surprising that K’awiil, a deity often connected to royalty, as well as lightning, maize and snakes, is depicted here.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Carved Tripod Vase | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=70.53