Engraved Shell

Maya culture, Pre-Columbian

600 - 900

Titles Engraved Shell (Descriptive)
Artist Maya culture, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, 200 BC - AD 1000
Medium shell
Dimensions 5 x 2 1/2 in. (12.7 x 6.4 cm)
Credit Line Gift of Dr. Orville W. Clayton, 1981.72
Work Type shell
Classification Costume
On View

See More of the Collection

Seated figure with ornate headdress, nose ring, earring

Stirrup-spout Vessel in Form of Reclining Deer, Moche culture, Pre-Columbian, fired clay and slip

Standing Female Figure, Michoacan culture, Pre-Columbian, earthenware

An effigy urn with the figure of the Goddess "8Z" superimposed on it. The central medallion of the headdress is glyph C. The headdress is brimmed and has rosettes on either side of the central medallion. She sits cross-legged, wears a cape and a large pectoral with a central glyph. The design of the cape implies the existence of both shoulders and arms. The face appears with an Ehecatl-like snout. This is often an attribute of this goddess. She also wears large ear flares. An open urn is attached to the back, the use of which is still open to conjecture. Such figures are found in groups in important chamber tombs

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