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Tripod Plate

Arts of the Americas

Painting, particularly on ceramic vessels, was the primary art form among the Maya. This plate is representative of the “turkey vulture” pottery tradition, a regional style that was created for a broad audience and used almost exclusively in burials. The vessel’s interior is decorated with the Muan bird, the messenger of the lords of the underworld. The “kimi” glyph, or death sign, emanates from the bird’s head just above the beak. On the interior rim, two centipedes swim in the underworld’s black waters.
CULTURE Maya
MEDIUM Ceramic, pigment
  • Place Found: Campeche, Mexico
  • DATES ca. 593-731
    DIMENSIONS 4 9/16 x 17 11/16 x 17 11/16 in. (11.6 x 44.9 x 44.9 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 39.57
    CREDIT LINE Dick S. Ramsay Fund
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1939, provenance not yet documented; by 1939, acquired by William Spratling of New York, NY, New Orleans, LA, and Taxco, Mexico; 1939, purchased from William Spratling by the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Large polychrome tripod plate with a Muan bird (turkey vulture) design in the center and a centipede along the interior rim. Condition: good.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Maya. Tripod Plate, ca. 593-731. Ceramic, pigment, 4 9/16 x 17 11/16 x 17 11/16 in. (11.6 x 44.9 x 44.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 39.57. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 39.57_view01_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 39.57_view01_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2022
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Maya. <em>Tripod Plate</em>, ca. 593-731. Ceramic, pigment, 4 9/16 x 17 11/16 x 17 11/16 in. (11.6 x 44.9 x 44.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 39.57. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 39.57_view01_PS11.jpg)

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