Sun God Urn

Chiapas, Pre-Columbian

8th-9th century

  • Titles Sun God Urn (Descriptive)
  • Medium polychromed terra cotta
  • Dimensions Overall: 13 1/2 x 11 x 7 1/2 in. (34.3 x 27.9 x 19.1 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Gift of Mrs. Gay Barna, in memory of her mother, Rose Montgomery Melhado, AFI.24.1982
  • Work Type urn
  • Classification Containers

See More of the Collection

Vessel (Kero), Sicán culture, Pre-Columbian, gold and tumbaga (copper and silver alloy)
Earthenware bowl with brownish clay body under black slip, burnished, with white pigment rubbed into incised designs located around shoulder and under rim. Bowl has wide mouth with flaring rim, and three hollow, conical rattle feet.
Fine line graving of a classical Maya noble in a seated, cross-legged position from the Lsle of Jaina. The face shows pear shaped eyes with the pupil at the front and a slightly hooked nose and the down turned mouth. He wears a turban and round ear ornaments. There is a single bead on his chest and he wears a heavy girdle tied in back. His right hand rests on his knee with the fingers bent in the classic position. The engraving has been filled with red.
Round disk with carved stylized face on one side, smooth on back.