{"object":[{"sourceId":{"label":"Source ID","value":"38351"},"creditline":{"label":"Credit Line","value":"Gift of Professor William J. Dress, PhD 1953"},"labelText":{"label":"More Information","value":"BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis is a Maya vessel with depictions of human figures in elaborate dress.WHERE WAS IT MADE?This vessel was made in what is now Mexico.HOW WAS IT MADE?This bowl was likely hand-built with the coil method. In this method, a base is made by shaping clay into a flat disc. Then hand formed coils of clay, like ropes, are successively added to one another, building up the walls of the bowl. A tool such as a wooden paddle is used to smooth the sides both inside and out, leaving no trace of the coils. Before the bowl was fired, it was painted with slip. Unlike resin-based paints applied after firing, which wash off if scrubbed and burn off when heated, slip-painted decoration is relatively resistant to ordinary wear and tear. Slip paint is made by mixing different-colored clays or ground mineral pigments with water. Although some colors are naturally present in the clay, others can be made by adding powdered minerals to clay; for example, minerals high in iron produce rich oranges and reds, while those containing various forms of copper produce blues and greens.HOW WAS IT USED?The function of pre-Columbian ceramic vessels is not easy to ascertain. Were these vessels made for the dead, fancy grave goods with specific religious or mythical imagery, or were they treasured possessions used in life? Or both?Although most pottery made in the past was functional ware used to cook, store, or serve foods, more elaborate pieces also conveyed social information. It appears that pre-Columbian people may have had special pots for display in their homes or for use during special occasions.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?This deep bowl with tall sides has a rounded base with black and red painted decoration on an orange ground. Look at the three seated human figures with elaborate headdresses and costumes that circle the exterior of the vessel. They sit with their arms extended in front, holding spears decorated with stone points and feathers. They wear black body-paint, and have long plumy extensions rising from their backs or shoulders. Although these figures may appear quite other-worldly to us, there is no evidence that they represent deities or gods.To see other Maya vessels in the Johnson Museum\u2019s collection, search for object numbers 70.040, 72.092, 76.016.001, 76.016.003, 2000.096, 2006.070.422, and  2006.070.423 in the keyword search box. ABOUT THE MAYA CULTURE:The Maya civilization was one of the premier civilizations of Mesoamerica, achieving great masterpieces of art and architecture, a sophisticated calendrical system, and a formal system of writing that has only been deciphered in the past several decades. A much more detailed view is emerging of the Mayan city-states located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, and adjacent areas of Guatemala and Honduras. Although the exact details of the Maya collapse in the 800s are still controversial, it appears that excessive warfare and violence, coupled with environmental degradation and the stress of a large population, led to the demise of this once-vibrant culture. Populations crashed, with survivors of the urban centers dispersing to more rural areas."},"invno":{"label":"Object number","value":"2003.043.006"},"description":{"label":"Description","value":"Open-mouthed cylindrical vessel with rounded base has fine black and red painted decoration on orange ground.  Three seated human figures with elaborate headdresses and costumes circle the exterior of this vessel.  Figures sit with their arms extended in front with long plumy extensions rising from their backs or shoulders.  Vessel is cracked but intact and entire.This deep bowl with tall sides has a rounded base with black and red painted decoration on an orange ground. Three seated human figures with elaborate headdresses and costumes circle the exterior of this vessel. The figures sit with their arms extended in front, holding spears decorated with stone points and feathers. The figures wear black body-paint, and have long plumy extensions (tails?) rising from their backs or shoulders. Although these figures may appear quite other-worldly to us, there is no evidence that they represent deities or gods.________What was this used for?The function of pre-Columbian ceramic vessels is not easy to ascertain.  On the one hand, the vessels in the Johnson Museum's collection are lovely pieces of art, often with detailed imagery which makes their appearance of interest apart from any mundane functionality.  On the other hand, these lovely vessels were still created as vessels rather than as figures, so presumably their functional aspect was important to the maker.  Because these pieces of pottery were deposited in graves, the question also arises as to whether or not similar items were used on a daily basis.  Were these vessels made for the dead, fancy grave goods with specific religious or mythical imagery, or were they treasured possessions used in life?Maya (AD 250-850)The Maya civilization was one of the premier civilizations in the New World, achieving great masterpieces of art and architecture, a sophisticated calendrical system, and a formal system of writing which has only been deciphered in the past several decades.  The decipherment of Maya writing enables us to have a much more detailed view of the political machinations of this series of city-states located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, and adjacent areas of Guatemala and Honduras than had hitherto been possible.  Although the exact details of the Maya collapse in the 800's are still controversial, it appears that excessive warfare and violence, coupled with environmental degradation and the stress of a large population, led to demise of this once-vibrant culture.  Populations crashed, with survivors of the urban centers dispersing to more rural areas.Suggestions for further reading about the Maya:Henderson, John S. (1997): The World of the Ancient Maya. Cornell University Press: Ithaca.Schele, Linda and David A. Freidel (1990): A Forest of Kings: the Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. William Morrow:New YorkSharer, Robert J. with Loa P. Traxler (2006): The Ancient Maya,  sixth edition. Stanford University: Stanford."},"medium":{"label":"Medium","value":"Earthenware with painted decoration"},"onview":{"label":"On View","value":"0"},"media":{"label":"Media","value":["2003.043.006_d0554_022","2003.043.006_d0554_023"]},"title":{"label":"Title","value":"Polychrome vessel with three seated human figures"},"classification":{"label":"Classifications","value":"Ceramics"},"primaryMedia":{"value":"https://emuseum.cornell.edu/internal/media/dispatcher/78678/full"},"culture":{"label":"Culture","value":"Maya (Mexico)"},"displayDate":{"label":"Date","value":"ca.  300-900 A.D."},"id":{"label":"Id","value":"217106"},"dimensions":{"label":"Dimensions","value":"Height: 6 1/8 inches (15.6 cm);Diameter: 13 inches (33 cm)"}}]}