Censer with seated king

Censer with seated king

Maya artist(s)

Details

Medium
Ceramic, slip
Dimensions
H. 31 1/2 × W. 12 1/4 × D. 9 in. (80 × 31.1 × 22.9 cm)
Origin
Maya
Holding institution
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 1999

Art Genome Taxonomy

11 tags

Subject Matter

  • The catalog identifies the subject as a king, and the image shows a centrally positioned seated figure wearing an elaborate headdress and extensive ornaments associated with royal presentation.

Visual Qualities

  • Highly Ornamented Visual · 98%

    The figure, headdress, ornaments, and container are covered with layered relief elements, bead-like borders, scalloped edges, scroll forms, and repeated decorative bands.

  • Symmetrical Visual · 95%

    The frontal figure and lower container are organized around a strong vertical axis, with broadly corresponding forms on the left and right.

  • Patterns Visual · 90%

    Repeated bead rows, scalloped edges, geometric bands, and alternating reddish-brown and light areas create patterned decoration across the object.

Medium and Techniques

  • Sculpture Visual · 96%

    The work is a fully three-dimensional modeled object combining a seated human figure with a substantial vessel form.

Time Periods

  • Ancient Art Metadata · 94%

    The catalog date of 300–400 CE places the work in ancient art.

Geographic Regions

  • Central American Art Metadata · 90%

    The catalog identifies the object as Maya in origin, associated with the Central American region.

Materials

  • Ceramic Both · 99%

    The catalog specifies ceramic with slip, and the image shows a modeled, fired-clay-like object with an earthen surface and applied or raised decoration.

Cultural and Religious Styles

  • Pre-Columbian Art Metadata · 98%

    The catalog identifies the place of origin as Maya and dates the object to 300–400 CE, supporting its classification within pre-Columbian art.

Tableware, Vessels, and Objects

  • Vessel Both · 90%

    The catalog classifies the work as Ceramics-Containers and identifies it as a censer; the lower portion visibly forms a substantial container body.

Antiquities, Artifacts, and Religious Objects

  • Ceremonial Object Metadata · 92%

    The catalog identifies the object as a censer, supporting its classification as a ceremonial object.

Source & rights

Maya artist(s). Censer with seated king. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.