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Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg)
Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg)
Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg)

Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg)

Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_threequarter_left_PS11.jpg)

Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_threequarter_left_PS11.jpg)

Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2009.2.21_front.jpg)

Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2009.2.21_front.jpg)

Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_threequarter_right_PS11.jpg)

Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_threequarter_right_PS11.jpg)

Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2009.2.21_back.jpg)

Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2009.2.21_back.jpg)

Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_back_PS11.jpg)

Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_back_PS11.jpg)

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Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad

Arts of the Americas

The Maya blue pigment on these figurines is still vibrant after fifteen hundred years. The two male figures represent members of the Maya royal court, as indicated by their elaborate garments and ornaments. The warrior wears a shell necklace, towering helmet-headdress and ear-spools; the nobleman wears a wide collar with long flaps, and a detachable bird-shaped headdress with feathered plumes. The whistle in the form of a composite monkey-human figure, or a man wearing a monkey mask, may refer to the patron god of artists, given the ability of monkeys to imitate what they see, as artists do.
CULTURE Maya
MEDIUM Ceramic, pigment
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
DATES 600–900
DIMENSIONS 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER 2009.2.21
CREDIT LINE Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller
PROVENANCE Prior to 1963, provenance not yet documented; by 1963, acquired by Ricardo Hecht of Mexico City, Mexico; 1963, purchased from Ricardo Hecht by Frederic Zeller of Sag Harbor, NY; 1994, inherited from Frederic Zeller by Susan Kennedy Zeller of Sag Harbor; 2009, gift of Susan Kennedy Zeller to the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Hollow whistle figurine (Jaina style) with the head or mask of a toad. The figure is sitting with knees flexed upwards. The arms are also flexed upwards with hands over the chest. The figure's left palm is open and in his right hand is a rattle. Ornaments include a bar pectoral, bracelets of rectangular plates, and a loincloth (maxtlatl). The mouth piece at the back serves as a third support leg. There is blue pigment on the figure's head, face, pectoral, and bracelets. There is also residue of white pigment all over. Condition: good
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Maya. Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2022
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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Maya. <em>Whistle in the Form of an Anthropomorphic Toad</em>, 600–900. Ceramic, pigment, 5 x 2 x 1 1/2 in. (12.7 x 5.1 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift in memory of Frederic Zeller, 2009.2.21. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2009.2.21_overall_PS11.jpg)

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