Lot 140
Pre-Columbian, Honduras, Ulua Valley, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A splendid pottery tripod dish carefully hand-painted with geometric, zoomorphic, and glyph-like motifs in hues of burnt orange, tangerine, and black. Comprised of a shallow bowl with flared walls sat upon 3 hollow, rectangular legs, the ancient vessel features a band of stylized animals encircling the center of the basin and horizontal stripes encompassing the interior walls. A row of nested "z" patterns lines the top of the rim. Alternatively, the exterior showcases a thick band of glyph scattered with additional animal designs, while lattice decoration embellishes the legs. Pointed lattice motifs also extend onto the underside of the basin, perhaps intended to represent maize. Size: 12.5" Diameter x 4.9" H (31.8 cm x 12.4 cm)
These ancient glyphs may convey an important date, a secret message, or simply be part of the vessel's aesthetic program. According to Dorie Reents-Budet, "One of the remarkable characteristics of Classic Maya painted pottery is the use of writing as more than simply a way to communicate ideas. As in the Islamic tradition, Maya artists employed calligraphy as a prime design feature and as an integral part of the total composition
The hieroglyphic texts also were used as compositional devices, placed specifically to help define the internal tensions, balances and divisions within the pictorial field." (Dorie Reents-Budet, "Painting the Maya Universe: Royal Ceramics of the Classic Period", Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1994, page 12)
Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection; ex-Heritage Auctions, New York, New York, USA, December 5th, 2010, auction #6056, lot #56056
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#183682
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting in areas; all done very well and difficult to notice. Some light nicks and surface wear as commesurate with age, but otherwise impressive preservations and excellent remaining pigments and detail.
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