Lot 127
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Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico, Zapotecos, ca. 350 to 500 CE. This important and large Zapotec effigy urn shows an enthroned male personage (his image is a unique, possibly singular example in the known corpus of Zapotec urns, and who has been named "7 Earthquake" based on the glyphic and numerical elements which are part of this superb Urn), with the countenance of an old man, similar to the Old Fire god seen in much of the art of Teotihuacan and Veracruz. He wears a large, spangled headdress with the image of a jaguar's face in it. Above the feline's head, along the top portion of the urn, is a glyph E sign with a single numeral bar underneath (5 Xoo). Size: 14" L x 18" W x 18.5" H (35.6 cm x 45.7 cm x 47 cm)
At each side can be seen descending birds with a Quetzal-like appearance; they are diving towards maize signs. These avians act as the animal alter ego (nagual) of the jaguar which, in turn, is the animal alter ego of seated male figure. On each side of the jaguar's head are symbols for the number "1". Large ear decorations with streamers in the form of bird tails hang down from the rounded ears of the feline, flanking the male's image. The old man wears a broad collar with beads attached, beaded wristlets, oliva shell bells decorated with geometric designs, and a loincloth with step and fret patterning. The man's face is deeply lined and sunken in with a toothless dentition which recalls the fangs of a feline in his slightly open mouth. Each of his eyes have exaggerated orbital surrounds, giving him the appearance of wearing a mask. This is also quite similar to Old deity images which wear glyph X on urns of this period.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.
Provenance: Collected in 1969 by Edgar and Betty (Lindy) Bergman of Chicago, IL; Property from the Betty L. Bergman Trust, Chicago, IL
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#173425
- Condition: As normal, several repairs to periphery but largely intact and in remarkable condition.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |