Lot 189
**Originally Listed At $3500**
Pre-Columbian, Maya, possibly Guatemala, Late Classic Period, ca. 700 to 850 CE. A rare and remarkable pottery jar presenting a flat base, a concave body and a flared, annular rim fit with a conical lid. Enveloped in a lustrous black glaze, the fascinating vessel is adorned with 2 pairs of incised parallel striations near the rim and the base. The lid is adorned by the incised image of 2 spiraling snakes, who coil around the huge steppe pyramid motif handle that caps the flat top. The slithering serpents display large ovoid as they wrap their bodies into infinity symbols and open their mouths to showcase slender, forked tongues and lengthy fangs. A cylindrical vessel like this one would almost certainly have been used for pouring cacao drink, the most popular drink in Maya territories, into larger cylinders, thus producing a frothy foam on top that was the preferred way of serving it. What is more, its magical iconography possessed layers of meaning in the Pre-Columbian world. Size: 6.875" in diameter x 11.25" H (17.5 cm x 28.6 cm)
Snake/serpents provide a fascinating element of Pre-Columbian iconography as they were regarded to be a beneficial source of nourishment and at the same time quite deadly with their potent venom. Also important to the indigenous was the fact that snakes shed their skin annually thus rejuvenating themselves and serving as symbols of renewal and good health. The existence of two snake heads on this piece may suggest the bicephalic serpent which was a signifier of high rank in various Pre-Columbian world views. These two-headed beasts were regarded as sky bands that arched over the earth or surrounded the seas serving as a passageway for the planets and stars of the celestial realm. This motif decorated articles associated with individuals of high rank, thus associating them with the powers of this mighty creature.
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: private New York, USA collection; ex-Lands Beyond Time Gallery, New York, acquired before 2000
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#165219
- Condition: Collection label on interior. Repair to rim with restoration over break lines. Lid repaired from several pieces with restoration. Chips to rim and scratches and abrasions throughout, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice earthen encrustations on interior.
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| $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 |
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| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |