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Collections

Elite Woman Figurine-Whistle600–900 CE

On view:
Geffen Galleries
Ceramic sculpture of a seated figure with a tall, multi-tiered headdress retaining patches of vivid blue paint, buff clay surface, arms folded at the midsection
Ceramic seated figure with buff-colored clay body, wearing an elaborate headdress with remnants of vivid turquoise-blue pigment. Figure holds a small form against the chest, with circular ear ornaments and a necklace indicated in low relief.
Ceramic figurine with a rounded, vessel-like body and elaborate molded figure on top, earthenware clay with remnants of vivid blue pigment in scattered spots on the body and concentrated on the upper figure.
Title
Elite Woman Figurine-Whistle
Culture
Maya
Place Made
Southeastern Mexico or Northern Guatemala
Date Made
600–900 CE
Medium
Earthenware with postfire pigment
Dimensions
8 x 4 x 3 4/5 in. (20.32 x 10.16 x 9.652 cm)
Credit Line
Purchased with funds provided by Camilla Chandler Frost
Accession Number
M.2010.115.260
Classification
Ceramics
Collecting Area
Art of the Ancient Americas
Selected Bibliography
  • Reents-Budet, Dorie. Painting the Maya Universe: Royal Ceramics of the Classic Period. Durham: Duke University Press, 1994.
  • Magaloni, Diana, Davide Domenici, and Alyce de Carteret. We Live in Painting: the Nature of Color in Mesoamerican Art. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2024.