The Honduran Ceramics Exhibit

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Two renderings of the Jaguar god of the Underworld, one on each side of the vase, depict him seated on a throne composed of crossed femurs and disembodied eyes surrounded by the black waters of the Underworld. The deity holds a large sacrificial knife in his left hand, and blood splatters are found on his I-shaped pectoral and perhaps on his loincloth. The red background of the vase and the crossed femurs and eyeballs floating in the red background further invoke the theme of sacrifice. The two renderings of the Jaguar god of the Underworld are separated by a vertical stack of skeletal saurian heads that likely portray the witz/sacred mountain, an important place of Creation and an entrance into the Underworld realm.  The two hieroglyphic texts may be pseudo-glyphs although the lower band contains some readable signs. Their style recalls that of Copador pottery from Honduras and El Salvador as well as some pottery types from southern Belize. The texts may comprise a name or title sequence of the Jaguar god of the Underworld.
 

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Ceramic vessels with geometric rim band and two lug handles, as well as Bottles with differential firing on an orange background and globular body with sculpted geometric designs.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by bowls with resist and red painted designs (dots, irregular patches, geometric designs) on orange or cream slipped background. Exterior surface is smooth and highly polished (glossy and satiny). Bowl supports include mammiforms and hollow and solid feet, pedestal supports. Fine paste matrix. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993; Viel 1993.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic blackware vessel with a pedestal support. Incised decoration present on the exterior. See Viel 1993.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by bowls and cylinders, which may have pedestal, tripod or tetrapod supports. The exterior is a black burnished surface. Designs include incised, excised and modeled geometric motifs, which have post-fire red pigment.See Viel 1993.

Acbi Melano Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

This example shows a vessel with slightly flarring walls with vertical grove geometric designs on the exterior. It has a red polished surface.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by basal-flange bowls with pedestal supports. In some cases vessels have corresponding lids with anthropomorphic knobs (as shown). The interior and exterior is decorated with red and black designs on an orange background. Interior has bands and naturalistic motifs; the exterior has a variety of geometric and naturalistic motifs (monkeys are common). See Viel 1993.

Acbi Polychrome Plate w/Lid - Chorti/Maya Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by bowls and cylinders with a white slip and red geometric decoration. In some cases motifs may be incised. See Viel 1993.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Acbi Calamar Bowl - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic bowls with decorative tripod legs and pattern burnished vertical lines on the exterior brown surface.

Acbi Gruta Plate - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by flat dishes with flaring walls and an open V spout. See Viel 1993.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by tripod cylinders and bowls of various types. The exterior is a black/brown burnished surface. Designs are a combination of excised, incised and modeled motifs (geometric, naturalistic, and symbolic) in slight relief. Specific motifs include false glyphs, volutes, profile faces and serpent heads. A post-fire red pigment may be present. See Viel 1993.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Acbi Usurpar Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by vessels (bowls, plates and cylinders) with negative resist designs (dots, irregular patches, wavy lines, geometric designs) on orange, red or cream slipped background. Exterior surface is smooth and highly polished (glossy and satiny). Supports include mammiforms and hollow and solid feet, pedestal supports. Fine paste matrix. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Viel 1993.

Bijac/Acbi Usulutan Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Honduras Usulutan Style

Characterized by vessels (bowls, plates and cylinders) with negative resist designs (dots, irregular patches, wavy lines, geometric designs) on orange, red or cream slipped background. Exterior surface is smooth and highly polished (glossy and satiny). Supports include mammiforms and hollow and solid feet, pedestal supports. Fine paste matrix. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993.

Honduras Usulutan Bowl - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Honduras Usulutan Bowl - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Honduras Usulutan Chabij Style

Characterized by vessels (bowls, plates and cylinders) with negative resist designs (dots, irregular patches, wavy lines, geometric designs) on orange, red or cream slipped background. Exterior surface is smooth and highly polished (glossy and satiny). Supports include mammiforms and hollow and solid feet, pedestal supports. Fine paste matrix. This example shows a "shoe-shaped" vessel with two loop handles at the rim. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993.

Usulutan (Chabij) Jar - Chorti/Maya Late Formative

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Typically tall cylinders have a flaring rim and conical tripod supports. There is differential firing on a burnished, natural background.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by vessels with incised and/or carved and sculpted motifs on burnished surfaces. Exterior designs include fluting, glyphic bands, figures, and geometric motifs. In some cases a white or red pigment is found in the incised areas. Forms include cylinders, bowls and pitchers (rare). Vessels may have pedestal supports. See Viel 1993.

Coner Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by vessels with incised and excised designs. Motifs are made prior to polishing and include geometric forms, hieroglyphic texts, figures and serpents. Forms include cylinders and bowls. See Viel 1993.

Coner Ardilla Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Incense burners with a decorative lids.

Coner Cacao Incensario - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Coner Sisero Incensario - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by red-purple and black designs over on an orange slipped background. Forms include bowls, jars and cylinders. Exterior motifs are a combination of geometric, symbolic and naturalistic forms (monkeys and birds are common). Interior designs include bands and occasional negative 'batik' wavy lines. Fine paste matrix. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Beaudry-Corbett 1984, Viel 1993.

Coner Gualpopa Cylinder - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by bowls and cylinders with modeled and incised designs on a dark brown polished surface. This example shows a polished surface with vertical, scalloped fluting on the exterior.

Coner Macanudo Cylinder  - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by vessels with incised and/or carved and sculpted motifs on burnished surfaces. Exterior designs include fluting, glyphic bands, figures, and geometric motifs. In some cases a white or red pigment is found in the incised areas. Forms include cylinders, bowls and pitchers (rare). Vessels may have pedestal supports. See Viel 1993.

Coner Madrugada Cylinder - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Copan Bichrome Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Copan Bichrome Bowl - Chorti/Maya - Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic vessels and bowls with burnished exterior and simple geometric carved design.  Sometimes with a differential firing on a neutral background.

Copan Monochrome Cylinder - Chorti/Maya - Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

White slipped bowls with a border with grooved vertical designs; or with modeled nubs on the incurving rims.

Copan Incised Bowl - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by red-purple designs (specular hematite) over on an orange slipped background. Exterior surface is smooth and highly polished (glossy and satiny). Forms include bowls, jars and cylinders. Exterior motifs are geometric glyphs, figures (usually in a profile seated position) and animals (monkeys are the most common on bowl forms). Interior motifs include bands, geometric glyphs and animal motifs. Fine paste matrix. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Beaudry-Corbett 1984 and Viel 1993.

Copador Cylinder - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Copador Cylinder - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Copador Cylinder - Chorti/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by red-purple designs (specular hematite) over on an orange slipped background. Exterior surface is smooth and highly polished (glossy and satiny). Forms include bowls, jars and cylinders. Exterior motifs are geometric glyphs, figures (usually in a profile seated position) and animals (monkeys are the most common on bowl forms). Interior motifs include bands, geometric glyphs and animal motifs. Fine paste matrix. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Beaudry-Corbett 1984 and Viel 1993.

Gualpopa Polychrome Cylinder - Lenca/Maya - Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Polychrome vessels with elaborate designs in red, maroon or black pigments. Colors are incredibly vibrant. Forms include bowls, jars, cylinders and plates. The exteriors are painted with abstract designs (mat motifs, S-shapes, step frets, chevrons, scales), including animal forms (particularly monkeys and birds) and human forms framed by upper and/or lower geometric borders; interior designs include horizontal bands as well as vertical motifs called "counters". In some cases vases may have dual lug handles (birds, bats, monkeys or felines). Jars may have dual loop handles. Vessels may have pedestal or tripod supports. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Joyce 1993a, Viel 1978.

Ulua-Yojoa Polychrome Cylinder - Lenca/Maya - Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic figurines (including mold made) with modeled faces and bodies. Details include various hair designs and unique facial characteristics. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Joyce 1993.

Ulua Figurine - Lenca/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Barbier-Mueller Pre-Colombian Art Museum

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Polychrome vessel with red and black designs on a natural background.

Bay Island Polychrome Jar with Three tripod supports and two lug handles - Terminal Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic vessels with orange exterior. See Viel 1993.

Ejar Fine Orange Cylinder - Chorti/Maya Post Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Polychrome vessels with elaborate designs in red, maroon or black pigments. Colors are incredibly vibrant. Forms include bowls, jars, cylinders and plates. The exteriors are painted with abstract designs, including animal forms (particularly monkeys and birds) and human forms framed by upper and/or lower geometric borders; interior designs include horizontal bands. Vessels may have pedestal or tripod supports. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993.

Las Vegas Polychrome Vessel - Lenca/Maya Post Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Las Vegas Polychrome Tripod Plate with hollow feet - Lenca/Maya Early Post Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Las Vegas Polychrome Vessel - Lenca/Maya Post Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic bowls with incised designs in the form of "hand-wing", sharks, crosses, serpents (as shown) and other abstract designs. The exterior may be differentially fired and/or burnished, and may have remains of post-fire fugitive red pigment. See Fash 1991, Viel 1993.

Gordon Complex Bowl - Chorti/Maya Formative Period

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic bowls with tripod supports.

Playa de Los Muertos Bowl - Lenca/Maya Formative Period

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Ceramic figurines with modeled faces and bodies. Details include various hair designs and unique facial characteristics. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Joyce 1992.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Honduras Talgua Monochrome & Bichrome Styles

Ceramic vessels with modeled face (punctate eyes, modeled ears and nose) on the exterior.

Talgua Bowl - Formative Period

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Includes ceramic vessels with a negative resist decoration on the interior and/or exterior (wavy lines, geometric motifs, etc.) of orange or red slipped vessels. Additional designs may also be present. Forms include cylinders, bowls, dishes and plates. This example has a single loop effigy handle and nub supports.

Chichcaste Polychrome Bowl - Lenca/Maya Late Formative/Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Chichcaste Polychrome Tripod Bowl with hollow legs - Lenca/Maya Late Formative/Early Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Polychrome vessels with elaborate designs in red, maroon or black pigments. Colors are incredibly vibrant. Forms include bowls, jars, cylinders and plates. The exteriors are painted with abstract designs (mat motifs, S-shapes, step frets, chevrons, scales), including animal forms (particularly monkeys and birds) and human forms framed by upper and/or lower geometric borders; interior designs include horizontal bands as well as vertical motifs called "counters". In some cases vases may have dual lug handles ( birds, bats, monkeys or felines). Jars may have dual loop handles. Vessels may have pedestal or tripod supports. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993, Joyce 1993a, Viel 1978.

Sulaco Polychrome Plate - Lenca/Maya Late Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Vessels with red designs on white slipped background, and and black designs on white slipped background. Bowls often have tripod effigy supports. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993; Wonderley 1987.

Bichrome Plate (from Naco) - Lenca/Maya Late Post Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Vessels with red designs on white slipped background, and and black designs on white slipped background. Bowls often have tripod effigy supports. See Henderson and Beaudry-Corbett 1993; Wonderley 1987.

Nolasco Bichrome Plate - Lenca/Maya Late Post Classic

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Vessels in shape of a shoe with incised geometric designs.

Shoe-Shaped Vessel - Lenca/Maya Formative

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Characterized by small bottle forms with incised and excised designs of figures and text. Sometimes described as a Poison Bottle.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

The sculptures are hollow. These elaborate lids have cylindrical censer vessel bases, many of which contained ashes. See Fash 1991.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Large ceramic sculptures in the form of an incensario. Lids show personages attired in royal regalia: necklaces, ear spools, headdresses, belts, etc. The sculptures are hollow. These elaborate lids have cylindrical censer vessel bases, many of which contained ashes. See Fash 1991.  Also Ceramic Figure scuptures, volcanic tuff, and limestone sculptures in effigy forms.

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia

Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia