Xantil (deity censer)

Xantil (deity censer)

Eastern Nahua artist(s)

Details

Medium
Ceramic, slip
Dimensions
H. 22 5/8 x W. 15 1/8 x D. 9 in. (57.5 x 38.4 x 22.9 cm)
Origin
Eastern Nahua
Holding institution
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1969

Art Genome Taxonomy

10 tags

Subject Matter

  • Deities and Holy Figures Metadata · 99%

    The catalog title identifies the work as a deity censer, and the catalog subject is Deities.

  • Human Figure Both · 99%

    The catalog classifies the object as Ceramics-Sculpture, while the image clearly shows a modeled human figure with a head, torso, arms, and legs.

  • Face Visual · 99%

    The prominently modeled head presents a clearly readable face with eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and facial ornament.

Visual Qualities

  • Highly Ornamented Visual · 96%

    The figure incorporates an elaborate headdress, large ear ornaments, layered neck bands, cuffs, garment details, and painted or slipped markings.

  • Patterns Visual · 92%

    Repeated geometric, circular, linear, and banded motifs appear on the headdress, neck ornaments, cuffs, limbs, and garment.

Medium and Techniques

  • Sculpture Both · 99%

    The catalog classification includes Ceramics-Sculpture, and the image shows a fully three-dimensional modeled figure rather than a flat ceramic surface.

  • Polychrome Sculpture Both · 94%

    The visible surface retains multiple colors across the face, costume, ornaments, limbs, and vessel body; the catalog identifies the medium as ceramic with slip.

Materials

  • Ceramic Both · 99%

    Ceramic is specified in the catalog medium and is consistent with the modeled, fired-looking object shown.

Cultural and Religious Styles

  • Pre-Columbian Art Metadata · 87%

    The catalog dates the work to 1200–1521 CE and identifies its place of origin as Eastern Nahua, supporting its classification within pre-Columbian art.

Tableware, Vessels, and Objects

  • Vessel Both · 88%

    The catalog identifies the object as a censer, while the image shows a substantial cylindrical vessel body integrated with the figure.

Source & rights

Eastern Nahua artist(s). Xantil (deity censer). The Metropolitan Museum of Art.