Lot 9
Pre-Columbian, eastern Maya Lowlands, Late Classic Period, ca. 800 to 950 CE. A fabulous pottery cylinder vessel, finely carved with the relief register of 2 seated figures of the priestly scribal hierarchy dressed in loincloths with their hair tied back beneath elaborate, avian headdresses. Pseudoglyph decoration separates the pair as extensive remains of red cinnabar adorns the recessed areas, adding depth to the intricate relief. A speaking glyph emerges from the mouth of one figure, who appears to gaze downward at the object before him. Size: 5.1" Diameter x 5" H (13 cm x 12.7 cm)
Scribes played an incredibly important role in Maya society. It was required they be of royal birth and be part of the ruling class. They recorded important historical events. According to The Canadian Museum of History, the scribe's writing "was used to reinforce a ruler's military power and to legitimize his descent from noble ancestors and the gods. Writings on stone monuments were designed to place rulers in the most favorable light possible, and ancient sculptural inscriptions deal primarily with historical events, marriages, births, military campaigns and victories, rulers and other dynastic affairs."
For the Maya, extraordinary ceramic vases like this example were gifted to elite individuals, akin to the gifts exchanged between high profile dignitaries today. Vases were a functional gift, created by artist/scribes who came from elite families and who took pains to recreate the stories of Mayan mythology and religion as well as to depict royal and godly personages in their artwork. This artwork reinforced the ruling ideology and reminded the viewer of what was valuable in Mayan society. Today, they teach us about the stories that were important to the Maya and also give us clues to how elite people lived and dressed. Scholars have painstakingly worked to decipher the meaning of the iconography and glyphs painted on cylinder jars and we know much more about them than we did even twenty years ago.
Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010
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#174896
- Condition: Professionally repaired and restored with expected surface wear, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with great remaining detail and impressive remaining cinnabar.
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