Description:

Pre-Columbian, Guatemala, Uaxactun site, Peten Basin region, Mayan, ca. 650 CE. Artwork of the site of Uaxactun Siann K'aan or Born in Heaven) is among the finest of the Mayan. Uaxactun was inhabited from the Mid-Preclassic to the late Classic period, but flourished mainly in the Classic period from 500 CE to 900 CE. It was abandoned in the first part of the 10th century. During the following centuries the area was covered by dense jungle only to be rediscovered in the early 20th century. During the 1930s, Sylvanus Morley of the Carnegie Institution of Washington named it Uaxactun meaning "eight stones" from an inscription on one of the stelaes he found. Hence, the work from this region of the Peten possesses a rich history that ignites our imaginations. This piece is also unusual on account of its iconography. The sculptor elected to depict an elderly woman with one hand to her cheek, the other holding an olla. Her naturalistically rendered visage is poignantly expressive. Perhaps this woman is expressing grief and carrying an offering in the vessel. Perhaps she is simply weary from a long lifetime of hard work. In either case, it is clear that this figure has a story to tell. 5 7/8"T with lovely wooden stand, 5 1/4"T without stand;3 3/8"D with stand, 2 1/2"D without stand; 3 3/8"W with stand, 2 3/4" W without stand .

Provenance: Ex-private Colorado Springs, CO Collection.

All items offered for sale are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statutes covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids, papered by our parent company, Artemis Gallery Ancient Art.

  • Condition: Repaired at the skirt with slight loss to backside of skirt. Else intact and excellent

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March 14, 2014 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000