Central Caribbean. Stele, 700–1000. Volcanic stone, 78 9/16 x 23 1/4 x 11 in. (199.5 x 59 x 27.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Alfred W. Jenkins Fund, 34.5098. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 34.5098_front_PS4.jpg)
Central Caribbean. Stele, 700–1000. Volcanic stone, 78 9/16 x 23 1/4 x 11 in. (199.5 x 59 x 27.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Alfred W. Jenkins Fund, 34.5098. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 34.5098_detail_PS4.jpg)
Stele
Arts of the Americas
This stele is topped with three kneeling human figures wearing jaguar masks with pronounced incisors, and the back is decorated with eighteen crouching jaguars carved in high relief. The exact function of such monumental stone slabs is unknown because so few have been found or excavated in the region. One example was discovered upright in a cemetery, suggesting that it was a grave marker for an important individual. In this case, the jaguar may have been the deceased’s totem animal or clan symbol.
CULTURE
Central Caribbean
MEDIUM
Volcanic stone
DATES
700–1000
DIMENSIONS
78 9/16 x 23 1/4 x 11 in. (199.5 x 59 x 27.9 cm)
(show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
34.5098
CREDIT LINE
Alfred W. Jenkins Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Large stone stele decorated with three human figures wearing jaguar masks. The figures are carved in the round and joined by the arms of the central figure. The back of the piece is decorated with eighteen crouching jaguars in high relief that are carved along the sides of the stele.
Condition: good.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Central Caribbean. Stele, 700–1000. Volcanic stone, 78 9/16 x 23 1/4 x 11 in. (199.5 x 59 x 27.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Alfred W. Jenkins Fund, 34.5098. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 34.5098_front_PS4.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 34.5098_front_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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