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THBMaya Stone Sculpture of Transformational Being
Lot 122
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $7,500
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Aug 5, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-08-05 10:00:00
2021-08-05 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : VARIETY SALE | Antiquities & Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/variety-sale-antiquities-ethnographic-art-7292
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Fine Art, more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Fine Art, more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (364)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Maya territories, late Preclassic, ca. 400 BCE to 250 CE. A fascinating, large, pale sandstone sculpture depicting a shaman in the act of transformation into a sacred jaguar; between his legs he holds a trophy head. The shaman's body is crouched, his limbs contorted as he changes into the pose of a quadruped. His face is still recognizably human, but his wide eyes and mouth make his face a leering rictus, as his tranformation is no doubt painful. The trophy head between his legs is noticeably different in expression, so that there is no mistake that it represents someone dead, with gaping holes for eyes and a slack mouth. The figure is atop and integral to a gently tapering, undecorated base. Size: 13.75" W x 21.5" H (34.9 cm x 54.6 cm); 25" H (63.5 cm) on included custom stand.
A carving of this size must have been made to display in a public space, and was used to reinforce common religious and social themes: shamanic transformation to gain the power of the jaguar, and the taking of trophy heads as part of the ritual of human sacrifice. Indeed, trophy heads were a near-universal constant in Mesoamerican imagery for millennia, although by the Classic Maya period it seems likely that the taking of actual trophy heads had (mostly) been replaced symbolically by the ball from the ballgame (as in the Popol Vuh, where a decapitated head is used instead of a rubber ball). For the Preclassic Maya, however, this was likely a real practice that would have been familiar with the people viewing this statue.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex Harmer Rooke, New York, USA
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.
Replace: 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 Replace: 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 Replace: 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.
#132065Excellent deposits on surface. Weathering to form but many details remain clear.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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