Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "294033",
    "label": "Vessel with Reclining Figure and Birds",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}

{
    "id": "294033",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Vessel with Reclining Figure and Birds",
    "description": "This ceramic vessel features a supine human being pecked by two birds that perch on the vessel’s doughnut-shaped chamber. The identity of the apparently mythical creature modeled in low relief on the sides of the stirrup-shaped spout is unknown. Little can be said about meaning beyond pointing out an obvious reference to death.",
    "date": "2200–200 BCE",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2017.55",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60758783"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ceramic"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2017.55/2017.55_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2017.55/2017.55_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2017.55/2017.55_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 14.3 x 14.9 cm (5 5/8 x 5 7/8 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Andes, north coast, Cupisnique style"
    ],
    "accession": "2017.55"
}

{
    "tec": "Ceramic, pigment (cinnabar?)",
    "tombstone": "Vessel with Reclining Figure and Birds, 2200–200 BCE. Andes, north coast, Cupisnique style. Ceramic, pigment (cinnabar?); overall: 14.3 x 14.9 cm (5 5/8 x 5 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of John and Agneta Solomon, 2017.55",
    "collection": "AA - Andes",
    "didYouKnow": "The stirrup-shaped form of the spout is common among Peruvian ceramics and unique to the ancient Americas.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Bergh, Susan E. “Acquisition Highlights: Pre-Columbian Art.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>58, no. 2 (March/April 2018): 8-9.",
            "page_number": "Reproduced and Mentioned: P. 8",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/CMAMM2018-02/page/n3/mode/2up"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2017.55",
    "creditline": "Gift of John and Agneta Solomon",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 08:52:24.331000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2017.55/2017.55_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 294033,
    "dept": "Art of the Americas",
    "coll": "AA - Andes",
    "med": "Ceramic, pigment (cinnabar?)",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}

{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2017.55/2017.55_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "914cb0f8afde5494"
}