Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Maya Civilization, Classic Period, ca. 250 to 900 CE. A captivating example of Classic Period Maya ceramic artistry, this redware pottery bowl features a slightly concave body with flaring walls and a subtly thickened rim, supported by a rounded base. Its surface is meticulously incised with winding serpentine motifs framed within segmented panels. These abstract forms, rendered with swirling lines, latticed shapes, and circular clusters, evoke the iconography of Maya glyphs or pseudo-glyphs - suggesting a narrative or symbolic code embedded within the decoration. Size: 7.9" Diameter x 4.3" H (20.1 cm x 10.9 cm)

Executed with a refined sense of rhythm and movement, the serpents undulate across the vessel in a continuous, looping procession. Their forms recall celestial or mythological beings in Maya cosmology, linking the imagery to themes of divine power, fertility, and transformation. The reddish slip has aged to a mottled patina, accentuated by mineral deposits and surface encrustation, underscoring the vessel's antiquity and ritual character.

Such incised bowls may have served ceremonial or elite domestic purposes, possibly for drinking cacao or as votive offerings. The presence of glyph-like serpents imbues the vessel with an aura of sacred knowledge, positioning it not merely as a utilitarian object but as a visual articulation of Maya myth, memory, and status.

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

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.

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#194289

  • Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration and repainting over break lines. Some nicks and surface wear as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with good remaining detail and earthen encrustations throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

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May 30, 2025 8:00 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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000