Olmec Pottery Jar w/ Incised Glyph, ex Komor

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Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 19, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-05-19 10:00:00 2022-05-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographica-fine-art-9350
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz region, Olmec culture, ca. 1000 to 800 BCE. An exemplary pottery jar presenting a round yet stable base and thick walls that gently slant inward as they rise to a flared, annular rim. Enveloped in pale orange slip, the fascinating vessel has been adorned with incised decoration of 2 glyphs, each displaying a swirling, abstract form of a central serpentine shape surrounded by 4 petaloid motifs, all embellished by repeated, linear striations. A pair of horizontal lines encompass the rim and base, forming a lovely border for the central glyph design. Olmec vessels like this were portable objects that traveled around their area of influence to places like Tlatilco, Tlapacoya, Las Bocas, and San Jose Mogote. These jars were made throughout the wide area of interconnected chiefdoms that we consider the Olmec, and were often used to hold honey, cocoa, and other food. A stunning and rare example! Size: 6.6" Diameter x 7" H (16.8 cm x 17.8 cm)
  
  The glyphs on this carving are probably epi-Olmec or proto-Mayan. Epi-Olmec, like Mayan, consists of glyphs, often written in lines or columns. Although not all of it has been deciphered, what we know of this language is that it describes religious notions and, to a lesser extent, socio-political matters. It is not clear if glyphs are both pictographic and ideographic, or what role phonograms might have played, and this remains a hotly studied component of Mesoamerican archaeology. With all these questions, can we say anything about this vessel? Barring some exceptional circumstances, it was owned by a wealthy person, and buried with them; its glyphs probably speak to the status of the individual or offer a prayer.
  
  Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection; ex-Mr. and Mrs. Mayer collection, New York City, New York, USA, acquired March 28th, 1970; ex-Komor Gallery, New York, 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.
  
  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.
  
  #170500

  Condition

  Some stable surface fissures throughout. Expected nicks, abrasions, and a few minor chips. Some flaking to surface and areas of fire darkening. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining slip and impressively preserved incised detail. Matthias Komor collection label on base.
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