Lot 235
Pre-Columbian, Mayan territories, ca. 600 to 850 CE. Mayan Jaina Island mold-made male Lord rattle and whistling figure. These rare pieces come from the Jaina Island or "Island of Kings" This hollow made male holds his hands on his ball game yoke around his waist, large decorative necklace, scarification on face and royal hair cut. Mesoamerica's Jaina Island practiced one of the most renowned ancient figurine traditions. Jaina Island was a residential and funerary settlement adjacent to the coast of west-central Campeche. During the nineteenth century, its extensive burial grounds were discovered; however, archaeologists first excavated the region in the 1940s. They revealed figurines and rattles like this example in the arms of the deceased elite members of society who had been dressed in their finest clothes and wrapped in cotton burial shrouds and palm-fiber mats. According to Mexico archaeologist Roman Pina Chan, the director of excavations at Jaina, the ballgame had religious connotations, as it was associated with the Sun and/or Venus. The movement of the ball was thought to represent the movement of the Sun through the sky; while play in the four corners of the court symbolized an imitation of the star Venus. In general, the association with the cult of the sun evolved in the Classic period, whereas the connection with Venus was a Post-Classic development. Players who were specially trained for inter-city games wore protective stomach wrappings and yokes as we see here. However, given this figure's elaborate clothing and accoutrements, this yoke may have been worn for ceremonial ritualistic purposes. 6.25"W x 3.75"H (15.88 W x 9.53 H cm) Provenance: Ex-Ex-Arte Primitivo; Ex-Knox Artifacts, Scottsdale, AZ. 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.
- Condition: Small piece missing from top right of head. Else intact and choice.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
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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 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |