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Source Description
This unusual vessel is made of a U-shaped container and a sheet of clay modeled as a deity mask that is startling in its power: pierced eyes glare from the shadow of a muscular brow; the chin juts aggressively; and the part-bird, part-jaguar mouth opens in a shriek. This may be the face of the Olmec rain deity, the inspiration for much Olmec ritual and many accomplished works of art. The vessel may come from a grave or a buried offering.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
162338
label
Vessel with Deity Mask
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
162338
contentType
object
title
Vessel with Deity Mask
description
This unusual vessel is made of a U-shaped container and a sheet of clay modeled as a deity mask that is startling in its power: pierced eyes glare from the shadow of a muscular brow; the chin juts aggressively; and the part-bird, part-jaguar mouth opens in a shriek. This may be the face of the Olmec rain deity, the inspiration for much Olmec ritual and many accomplished works of art. The vessel may come from a grave or a buried offering.
date
1200–900 BCE
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60740322
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 18 x 17.1 x 15.9 cm (7 1/16 x 6 3/4 x 6 1/4 in.)
cul
Central Mexico (Las Bocas, Puebla?), Olmec, Formative Period
accession
2002.67
Source extras
tec
ceramic, traces of pigment
tombstone
Vessel with Deity Mask, 1200–900 BCE. Central Mexico (Las Bocas, Puebla?), Olmec, Formative Period. Ceramic, traces of pigment; overall: 18 x 17.1 x 15.9 cm (7 1/16 x 6 3/4 x 6 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 2002.67
collection
AA - Mesoamerica
citations
citation
Bergh, Susan E., "Vessel of the Bird Jaguar", Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em>. Vol. 43 no. 04, April 2003
page_number
Mentioned & reproduced: p. 4-5
citation
"Major Acquisitions 2000-2005." <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> 45, no. 6 (July/August 2005): 6-19.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 10
creditline
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:25:56.418000
sourceId
162338
dept
Art of the Americas
coll
AA - Mesoamerica
med
ceramic, traces of pigment
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
a4247c8cc3aa00f9