Figurine of a Nobleman with Detachable Headdress

Artist:Maya

Medium: Ceramic, pigment

Geograhical Locations:

• Mexico

Dates:600–900

Dimensions: figure (a): 6 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 2 1/2 in. (16.5 × 8.3 × 6.4 cm) mask (b): 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (11.4 × 11.4 × 3.8 cm)

Collections:

• Arts of the Americas

Exhibitions:

• Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas
• Climate in Crisis: Environmental Change in the Indigenous Americas

Accession Number: 2009.2.19a-b

Catalogue Description:
Solid figurine (Jaina style) of a Maya lord (a) with an elaborate, detachable mask-headdress (b), wearing elaborate garments and ornaments that are painted blue, red and white. A wide collar and pectoral hang down his chest. Over this is a large and long necklace from which hangs a skull. The strands of the necklace wrap around to the back. A smaller necklace lies closer around his neck. His skirt is segmented and painted alternating blue and red. There is a large decoration on his left sandal. His arms are decorated with wide bracelets. The mask consists of a helmet decorated with long feather plumes.

Brooklyn Museum