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Incensario (Incense Burner)
(Ancient Americas )
Made up of smoothed sheets and coils of coarse orange clay, this "incensario," or incense burner, depicts one of the Palenque Triad of deities that art historians call "GIII." The Maya called him Kinich Ajaw, or "Sun Lord." He is shown here with his trademark nose, and shell and fish symbols around his mouth. The stacking of faces is a hallmark of "incensarios" from the site of Palenque, where there was probably a workshop dedicated to their production. The potent effect of smoke and fragrance that would have risen from this visually provocative incense burner indeed reflects a Maya preference for ceremonial theatrics.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Raul Kamffer, Mexico City, Mexico; John A. Stokes, Jr., New York; Walters Art Museum, 2003, by gift.
Exhibitions
| 2002-2010 | Art of the Ancient Americas. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Mexico, Chiapas (Place of Origin)
Measurements
17 1/4 x 8 3/8 x 12 3/16 in. (43.8 x 21.3 x 31 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John A. Stokes, Jr., 2003
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
48.2770