Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mayan Territories, Classic Period, ca. 600 to 900 CE. Petén Basin or Southern Campeche Region. A finely executed Maya ceramic bowl, expertly hand-coiled and painted in red and orange pigments on a cream slip. The exterior is adorned with a band of bold, oversized hieroglyphs, each rendered within squared cartouches and separated by repeating rounded forms. The glyphs, likely part of a dedicatory formula, may denote names, dates, or ceremonial phrases invoking deities, noble lineage, or calendrical events. The interior of the bowl is equally elaborate: the rim is ringed with arching “scroll cloud” motifs, framing a central floral rosette or stylized quatrefoil. This may symbolize the Maya “portal” to the supernatural world or represent cosmological symbolism tied to creation and abundance. Size: 8.25" W x 3.75" H (21 cm x 9.5 cm)

Maya polychrome vessels such as this were frequently used in ritual feasting or elite exchange, and often buried in tombs as prestige items. The inclusion of painted glyphs reflects an object meant for literate elite audiences, capable of interpreting or performing the symbolic messages. The layout and vibrant palette suggest origin in a central lowland Maya polity, such as Calakmul, El Peru, or El Zotz.

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

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#194710

  • Condition: Intact with stable age-crack. Paint fresh with areas of manganese deposits.

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June 27, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

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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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000