Mexico or Central America, Maya / 600–900
Shell with Seated Noble
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Shell with Seated Noble as sculpture (Mexico or Central America, Maya · 600–900).
A Maya nobleman smokes a cigar as he reaches toward a shell with a serpent.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as conch shell.
The museum's collection notes: This plaque, perhaps meant to be held in the hand for close viewing, is delicately incised with a ruler who leans toward a serpent-headed conch shell at the lower left. The lord, who smokes a cigar, is simply dressed in a loincloth; a band of body paint or tattoos appears on his chest.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtShell with Seated NobleOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.