Veracruz lidded box Late Classic, ca. A.D. 550-960

the rectangular ceremonial vessel modeled with a standing guardian figure extending across the base and top, with hands cupped on the chest, the head rising above with open mouth and coiffure falling to the shoulders, wearing a tunic with simple belt and bead necklace, incised with stylized feathered serpent elements flanking the figure, a broad firing cloud visible on the lid, and areas with red pigment remaining.

Teochita Inc.
Stanley Marcus Collection, acquired from above in 1966

 

Tucson, Tucson Museum of Art, September 1996-January 1997

Clear breaks and repairs visible on the lid, small loss on upper right corner. Overall good as very little is any fill has been used. Very rare object.
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For a similar style lidded box with modeled figure, see Solis and Leyenaar (2002:cat. no. 180); see also the  "Huastec stone chest" acquired by the British Museum in 1879, believed to originate in central Veracruz in the Classic period  (Goldstein 1988:27).