Vessel in the Form of a Badger or Opossum
| Culture | Olmec |
|---|---|
| Title | Vessel in the Form of a Badger or Opossum |
| Date | 1200–900 BCE |
| Medium | Clay and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 10 3/4 × 6 1/8 × 6 1/2 in. (27.3 × 15.6 × 16.5 cm) Overall: 10 3/4 × 6 1/8 × 6 1/2 in. (27.3 × 15.6 × 16.5 cm) |
| Credit Line | Evan F. Lilly Memorial, Gift of Thomas T. Solley, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 80.51 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A vessel in the form of an opossum, with a curved neck and a head that points sharply downward, resting on its side on the body. The hands or paws are tied in the front. The vessel has a smooth, generally rounded body, supported by two small feet, with a round opening at the creature's neck/back of head.
This vessel is said to have been found in Las Bocas, an archaeological site in the state of Puebla to which a high number of ceramics have been attributed. It is part of a group of finely made containers in the form of animals, ducks, fish, badgers, opossum and more from the Central Mexican Highlands that have been associated with Olmec culture or influence in that area. In this example, the animal’s body makes up the entirety of the vessel. Other examples have a smaller animal form located at the top of the vessel.
While the meaning of these vessels is not fully understood, it is believed that they refer to the supernatural world and the role of shamans. If the animal depicted is an opossum it is possible that it refers to old age or was associated with pulque, an alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant, as was true in the later Classic period.
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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"Vessel in the Form of a Badger or Opossum | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=80.51