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Carved Vessel
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
A firefly is carved on both sides of this Maya vessel, which is from the Yucatán Peninsula. Among the most common of insects to appear in Maya art, the firefly seems to be associated with things that twinkle in the dark—stars and cigars, the latter a symbol that identifies creatures of the night.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineCarved Vessel, c. 600–1000. Mexico, Campeche, Maya, Chocholá Style. Earthenware; overall: 12.1 x 16.3 cm (4 3/4 x 6 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gruener, 1990.173
