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THBSizeable Maya Stone Jaguar Guardian Figure
About Seller
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
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About Auction
LiveNov 10, 2022
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Nautical, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
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- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Maya culture, probably Guatemala, late Preclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 100 CE. A fabulous stone sculpture of a jaguar - an important animal in Mesoamerican culture - depicted seated on his hind legs like a puppy and grasping 2 pointed objects, perhaps ears of maize, a staple crop of the Maya. Mouth agape as though mid-roar, the fierce feline displays prominent fangs and an extended tongue. The artist combines naturalistic qualities, such as a rounded snout, with exaggerated and stylized characteristics, like the huge, bulging eyes, spiraling nostrils, and scrolling ears. His body similarly takes an abstract form resembling a turtle, a cosmological symbol of pre-Columbian cultures who related its shell to the celestial vault and the animal's body with the axis that united both heaven and earth. A splendid and sizable example, replete with ancient Mesoamerican iconography! Size: 6.3" W x 14" H (16 cm x 35.6 cm)
Volcanic stone figures like this example would have guarded the entrances to villages or agricultural fields. A similar stone jaguar that measures over six feet tall can be found in the archeological site of El Baul on the south coast of Guatemala, which was associated with early cacao production. The jaguar was considered to be a protector of cacao plantations in the Olmec and Maya world, and statues like this were frequently made to frighten thieves.
Known as the "king of beasts" in the Pre-Columbian world and infamous for possessing high speed and massive strength, the jaguar was believed to dominate nature and inspire respect and awe throughout the ancient Americas. Jaguars were associated with strength and leadership, whether regarding spirituality or martial skill. Warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this King of Beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World whom they viewed as their spirit companion and protector. According to a dramatic narrative in the Popol Vuh, the protective hero twin Xbalanque, possessing a zoomorphic phenotype with jaguar skin, fought the monster macaw Vucub Caquix with his twin Hunahpu, and the hero twins defeated the monster.
Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010
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.
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#175046Some minor chipping, as well as expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining detail. Light earthen deposits throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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Artemis Gallery will no longer be able to offer in-house shipping for most international orders, as well as all oversized orders, including most paintings. These items are clearly marked in the listing as “3rd Party Shipping Required” in the listing. We have a list of recommended third party shippers to assist you in shipping to and from, and would be happy to assist you in working with them. We require a written authorization from the client to release property to any third party. You may fax a Shipping Release Form to 303-828-3235 or email your authorization to kristen@artemisgallery.com. Please note the all property must be removed from our premises within seven (7) business days following the last day of the auction.
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