New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Images(2)

Vase with Ballgame Scene

Artist Unknown

CultureGuatemala | Maya | Pre-Columbian

Date600-900

MediumCeramic | Polychrome

DimensionsOverall: 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)

Credit LineGift of Edwin Pearlman and Museum purchase

Object number86.405

Collections

Ancient American Art

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 105

DescriptionThis extraordinary ballgame scene is the ancient equivalent of a freeze-frame intsant replay. Two elaborately outfitted players are captured in mid-volley. Using his well-padded mid-section, the layer on the right has just returned the solid rubber ball to his opponent. To the right of this player is a large, round feathered shield mounted on a staff, probably a movable ballcourt marker. To present this entire scene-- ballcourt, players, and pyramid in the background-- the painter of this vase opened up the perspective like a book. The viewer is looking down the length of the playing alley. The small horizonta structures behind each player are the sloped walls of the ballcourt.

Label TextVase with Ballgame Scene Maya (Guatemala), Late Classic Period, 600–900 C.E. Ceramic and polychrome, 8 1/4 in. (21 cm) height Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA Gift of Edwin Pearlman and Museum purchase 86.405 Catalogue raisonnéMaya Vase Database (Kerr #1209), http://research.mayavase.com/Exhibition History"Old Gods and Young Heroes: The Pearlman Collection of Maya Ceramics," The Israel Museum, The Maremont Pavilion of Ethnic Arts, Jerusalem, Spring 1982. (Exhib. cat. no. 11). "Old Gods and Young Heroes. The Pearlman Collection of Maya Ceramics," The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Va, October 28- December 18, 1983. "Ancient Americas: Art from Sacred Landscapes", The Art Institute of Chicago, October 10, 1992 - January 3, 1993; Houston Museum of Fine Arts, February 14 - April 18, 1993; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, June 6 - August 15, 1993. (Exhib. cat. no. 130, not illustrated) "The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame," Mint Museum of Art, Sept. 24, 2001 - Jan. 6, 2002; New Orleans Museum of Art, Feb. - April 2002; Joslyn Art Museum, June - August, 2002; Newark Museum, October - December 2002. Published ReferencesMichael D. Coe, _Old Gods and Young Heroes: The Pearlman Collection of May Ceramics_, (Jerusalem: The Israel Museum, 1982), no. 11, pp. 34-35. Richard F. Townsend, ed., _Ancient Americas: Art From Sacred Landscapes_ (Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 1993), Cat. No. 130, p. 378 (not illustrated). E. Michael Whittington, _The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame_, exh. cat., Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, N.C., 2001, 14, 234. Cooperativa La Joplin, _The Ball: A Mexican Legacy_ (Mexico: Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, A.C. with Cooperativa La Joplin, 2016) 51.