Seated Ballplayer

CultureMaya
Titles
  • Seated Ballplayer
Date600–900 AD
MediumEarthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
DimensionsOverall: 5 1/2 × 4 3/8 × 5 in. (14 × 11.1 × 12.7 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Accessions Endowment Fund
Object number2013.291
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
205M Wiess Gallery
On view

Explore Further

Object Type
ProvenanceJose Palomeca and Guy Puerta; [André Emmerich (1924–2007) Gallery, New York, by 1967]; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, NY, 1967–until at least 1988; [Ancient Art of the New World, New York]; Private collection, New York, by at least 2001–2013 [2]; sold through Altlantic Art Parnters, New York; purchased by MFAH, 2013.

[1] Parsons, Lee. Ulama: The Ballgame of the Mayas and Aztecs. Leiden, 1988. Page 164, figure 36.
[2] Whittington, Michael. The Sport of Life and Death. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2001. Page 228, fig. 101.
Exhibition History"The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame," The Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, September 22, 2001–January 6, 2002.

"Ulama–The ballgame of the Mayas and Aztecs," Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden, 1988.

"Blood of Kings: Dynasty and Ritual in Maya Art," Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, May 17 - August 24, 1986, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, October 8–December 14, 1986.

"Jaina Figurines," The Art Museum, Princeton University, Princeton, May 3–June 29, 1975.

“Fangs, Feathers, and Fins: Sacred Creatures in Ancient American Art,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 15, 2014–March 22, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
On bottom with red paint: 67.80
On bottom with white paint: MN2

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Standing Warrior
600–900 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
65.151
Ballplayer
600–900 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
2013.292
Ballplayer
600–900 AD
Earthenware with slip and traces of polychrome pigment
2007.1185
Maize God Figurine
600–900
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
2015.27
Seated Woman
300–600 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
65.193
Seated Female
600–900 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
2014.252
Seated Male Effigy Whistle
600–900 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
2014.80
Seated Jaguar
500-700
Earthenware with black pitch (chapopote) and traces of polychrome pigment
63.1
Deity Impersonator
300 BC–300 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
2014.6.A,.B
"Laughing Boy" Effigy
600–900 AD
Earthenware with slip and traces of polychrome pigment
2006.675
Rattle Figurine of a Standing Woman
550–800 AD
Earthenware with traces of polychrome pigment
87.283
Incense Burner (incensario) Lid
150–650 AD
Earthenware with slip and traces of polychrome pigment
97.113.A,.B