Two Part Effigy Vessel at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, UEA, Norwich

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This stunning two-part effigy vessel or censer originates from Guatemala in Central America's rich cultural landscape. It is an ancient Mayan masterpiece from El Petén, specifically crafted during the classic period (AD 400-500). Made from terracotta with bold red, black, and yellow paint, this remarkable piece measures 24.0 cm in height. The Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection acquired it in 1975, assigning UEA 624 as its reference number. These delicate effigy pots were skillfully fashioned to resemble stylized humans, plants, and animals with great precision. Two distinct substyles of Chavín stirrup spout pots include the thicker-walled, glossy-on-matte blackware Cupisnique style and the vibrant red and black Santa Ana style. The ancient belief that death marked the beginning of an after-life, a concept more tangible than modern society's understanding of life beyond death, is a notion that every individual interested in the progression of civilization should cherish. If not for the tangible evidence of civilization unearthed from ancient tombs, much of what we now know about early societies would remain unknown. We could never say with certainty how the Chinese or Egyptians, Mexicans or Peruvians, chose to dress or worship. However, because the ancients believed their deceased led an after-life remarkably similar to life on earth, they buried with them cherished possessions and practical objects like vessels for eating and drinking. To learn more about Effigy Vessels, visit our dedicated page here. This remarkable object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory. Our goal is to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for everyone's free access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort, and we invite you to contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com if you have interesting items to share.