Figure pottery of the famous Island of Jaina Campeche

This beautiful figure of ceramics comes from the famous Island of Jaina in Campeche, Mexico. This island was a famous artistic centre which manufactured and exported on a large scale their clay figurines throughout the maya area.

The character represented is a layer of feathers, a turban, and several jewels, which gives us an idea of his noble status. The position in which it is located (with the mouth open and arms in motion), gives us the idea that this character was a kayom, a singer in the royal courts of the mayans.

The figure was sacked and acquired by Gillett G. Griffin, who later donated to the Princeton University Art Museum