Lot 91
Pre-Columbian, Mayan Territories, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A finely painted polychrome terracotta plate standing upon three pointed feet, its tondo magnificently decorated in the center with the visage of a Kukulcan or Ququmatz (Mayan name for the Aztec Quetzalcoatl) - the infamous Mesoamerican "feathered serpent" (in Nahuatl language) deity - surrounded by a running triangular motif on the inner rim, all in stunning red, black, and orange hues. The Quetzalcoatl profiled face connotes his power and magnificence, just look at that beautifully delineated crest of opulent plumes and that fierce snake or perhaps bearded dragon face, with its wide eye staring out from the profile pose, and that open mouth revealing curved sharp fangs. Quetzalcoatl or Kukulcan was a powerful god among the indigenous of the Americas. In the words of the pioneering Mexican artist/anthropologist Miguel Covarrubias, whose classic tomes and illustrations continue to contribute to scholarly studies today, Quetzalcoatl stood for all that was good in this world: peace, art, wisdom, and prosperity. Disguised as an ant, he discovered maize, the staple food of the Indians, hidden under the mountain of Substance, Tonacatepetl; he also invented the arts, the sciences, and the calendar. In fact, everything connected with wisdom and culture was attributed to Quetzalcoatl. (Miguel Covarrubias, Mexico South: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946), p. 130.) A magnificent example of Mayan pottery, replete with meaningful iconography, strong technique, and the utmost artistry. Size: 13.25" in diameter x 2.25" H (33.7 cm x 5.7 cm)
Provenance: Ex-Bill Freeman collection, Santa Fe, NM
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#117227
- Condition: Repaired from several pieces with expected surface wear as shown. Overall an impressive piece with very legible iconography.
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