- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Ceramic incense burner (candelero)
- Long description
- Vessel with 2 cylindrical holes, roughened outside, known as a Candelero. The vessel is made from thick, grey pottery and has a drilled hole in its base, probably for material analysis. [SM 12/02/2008]
- Person
- Maker Unknown Maker
- Field collector Unknown Collector
- PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
- Date / Period
- Date made: 250-700 Archaeological period: Late Teotihuacan
- Date collected
- By 1874
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1884
- Materials and processes
- Material Pottery, Process Handbuilt, Process Hollowed, Process Fire-Hardened
- Dimensions
- Width: max 40 mm, Length: max 65 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1884.128.72
- Research and responses
This object was examined by Dr Elizabeth Graham as part of the Fell funded project Characerizing the World Archaeology collections. She noted that this was a candelero for two candles, although such vessels can also be used for burning incense. This style of object originated from Central Mexico (Teotihuacan) but can also be found in the Maya area so it is hard to say their culture; I did not write down the donor information but that might have the source. Generally Classic period (A.D. 250-700) and in the Maya area they don't appear until after about A.D. 300 or 400), apparently an influence from Teotihuacan. Most of the ones I've excavated in the Maya area are single but doubles occur." [AS 01/09/2010]
Use unknown but generally held to be incense burner for copal. [LM]
Search terms: Vessel, Pottery, Religion, Incense-burner, Unidentified Object