Drinking cup

Although the finely carved ceramic vessels of this style have been associated with the region around the town of Chocholá in western Yucatán, Mexico, the exact location of their manufacture is not known. The imagery carved upon them, including on this example, are more similar to the iconography of southern Maya lowland art than to that of Yucatán. Unfortunately, no examples of Chocholá ceramics have been uncovered in archaeological contexts. However, certain similarities between Chocholá vessels and stone carvings at the site of Xcalumkin in Campeche, Mexico, have led some to suspect this region as the source of Chocholá ceramics. This vessel presents a finely carved rendition of the head of the lightning god K’awiil on one side, identifiable by the scrolls emanating from a disk-shaped mirror on his forehead. The carving incorporates a fascinating play of fine line shallow incision and deep relief of varying thickness suggestive of calligraphic, painted lines. A floral motif, presented both with paint and incision, decorates the other side. Somewhat atypically of Chocholá vessels, this example lacks a hieroglyphic dedicatory inscription.