Object Notes

The Maya populations of Guatemala are distinguished through the richness of their textile arts. One of the most distinctive and recognizable garments is the huipil, a tunic-like blouse worn by Maya women.

The Maya populations of Guatemala are distinguished through the richness of their textile arts. One of the most distinctive and recognizable garments is the huipil, a tunic-like blouse worn by Maya women.

Although its unusual shape is probably copied from Middle Eastern water pipes, or kendi, and they are sometimes described as nursing bottles, colorful porcelains, like this one, may have been bought by Europeans merely as decorative objects.

This vase is part of a set of vases called garnitures.

This vase is part of a set of vases called garnitures.

This elegant plate was made for the van Herzeele family of Holland whose arms and those of another family can be seen at center. The arms are surmounted by a coronet supported by a white griffin and yellow lion. The ground of the well is beautifully painted with an overall opaque white enamel design of leaf scrolls in a technique known as bianco sopra bianco.

The naturalistically painted carp, which seems to approach us three-dimensionally, provides the only color on this shaped tureen stand or platter outside of the gold fishnet and spearhead border and the four floral sprigs. Perhaps inspired by a Portuguese Baroque silver or faience prototype, this stand was probably made for the Portuguese market.

This vase is part of a set of vases called garnitures.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.