Description
This thick, heavy ceramic face fragment may come from an incensario (incense burner). Several features, including the tau- or T-shaped front teeth, suggest it represents a deity known today only as G1 due to difficulties in translating its Maya name, which is recorded in hieroglyphs. The deity’s meanings are equally elusive, though it seems to be associated with both the sun and water.
Provenance
David Bramhall, 1966, sold to James C. and Florence C. Gruener (?-1966); James C. [1903-1990] and Florence C. [1908-1982] Gruener, Cleveland, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art (1966-1990); The Cleveland Museum of Art (1990)
Accession Number
1990.179
Medium
molded pottery
Dimensions
Overall: 15.5 x 13 x 9 cm (6 1/8 x 5 1/8 x 3 9/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gruener