Cup with Profile Head of the Maize God
800–400 BCE
Medium
Earthenware with burnished slip
Dimensions
9.8 × 9.8 cm (3 7/8 × 3 7/8 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
120476
Art Historical Context
Step into the ancient world of the Olmec, Mesoamerica's "mother culture," with this exquisite *Cup with Profile Head of the Maize God* (800–400 BCE). Crafted from earthenware with a burnished slip—a technique where a clay slurry is applied and polished before firing to create a smooth, lustrous surface—this small vessel (just 9.8 × 9.8 cm) exemplifies Olmec mastery of ceramics. The profile head of the Maize God, a divine figure embodying corn, fertility, and sustenance, emerges boldly from the cup's side, blending everyday utility with profound spirituality. The Olmecs, flourishing in present...