Polychrome Vase for Cacao
| Culture | Maya |
|---|---|
| Title | Polychrome Vase for Cacao |
| Date | 700–800 |
| Medium | Clay and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 5 × 4 5/16 in. (12.7 × 11 cm) Overall: 5 x 4 5/16 in. (12.7 x 11 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Mr. Gordon Saks, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 80.110.2 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
The vessel flares slightly toward the mouth and has a red band at the lip of the vessel, with a band of large glyphs below it, followed by a band of a repeated glyph below that. Below the glyphic bands is a wider band with a repeating, abstract design; a thin band of red and black pigment is right above the base.
While a stunning work of art this vase also had a utilitarian function. Ceramics among the Maya were used as everyday objects for liquids and foods, for nourishment left in tombs for the afterlife, and as commemorative markers for important moments in a person’s life. It is clear that this vessel held a liquid as there is a line of residue visible inside the vase. Based upon the glyphs just below the rim it is believed that this vase was used for the drinking of chocolate, a spicy and important drink for the Maya.
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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"Polychrome Vase for Cacao | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=80.110.2