Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, Guatemala, Maya culture, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A stunning pottery vessel of cylindrical form with tall, straight walls and a circular rim, all sitting upon a flat, annular base. Enveloped in a creamy beige slip, the exterior of the ancient vessel is adorned with intricately painted black motifs, including a horizontal band of glyphs around the rim and a large, abstract design at the center, perhaps depicting a human or avian head. Thick bands of black paint further embellish the top and bottom of the vessel. Size: 3.4" W x 7" H (8.6 cm x 17.8 cm)
Residue analysis on vessels like this one show that they were used for drinking chocolate, a hugely popular and ritual practice amongst the Maya, especially the elite. Although we know little about the artisans who made vessels like this one, we do know that cylinder jars are often associated with tombs, sometimes ritually broken. Prominent Maya scholar Michael Coe has connected the scenes depicted upon the most important of these vessels with the sixteenth century Maya written epic, the Popol Vuh, which describes Maya religion and mythology, as this one perhaps does.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: ex-William and Jane Frazer, Aspen, Colorado, USA, acquired 1980s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#166623
Condition
Repaired from several large pieces, with light restoration along some break lines, and resurfacing with overpainting along new material and break lines. Minor abrasions and nicks to rim, body, and base, and minimal fading to original pigment. Wonderful preservation to abstract designs on body as well as glyph band along rim. Old inventory label beneath base.