Description:

Pre-Columbian, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 600 to 900 CE. A finely painted cylindrical polychrome vessel, its surface alive with the rhythmic flow of line and color characteristic of the Late Classic Maya aesthetic. Rendered in deep red and black on a burnished orange ground, the design wraps fluidly around the vessel's body, forming a dynamic interplay of curvilinear motifs and abstract forms that may reference serpentine or avian iconography - symbols closely linked to transformation, divinity, and celestial power in Maya cosmology. The artist's hand betrays a mastery of controlled brushwork and compositional balance, arranging volutes, plumes, and dotted clusters that suggest motion and sound, much like the animate forces of nature they depict. The upper and lower bands, painted in warm red tones, frame the design, grounding the visual energy of the central register. Size: 5.5" Diameter x 6.3" H (14 cm x 16 cm)

Such vessels, often referred to as chocolate cups or kakaw vessels, were typically used in elite feasting rituals for the consumption of cacao - a sacred beverage associated with fertility, renewal, and divine sustenance. This piece exemplifies the refined artistry of Classic Maya ceramics, in which abstract design served not as mere ornament but as an invocation of mythic and natural forces. Despite the passage of centuries, its painted surface retains remarkable vitality, echoing the ceremonial life of the courts that once celebrated with it.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex- Rivero Studio, San Pedro, California, USA

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#197642

  • Condition: Two stable hairline fissures extending from rim. Surface wear with nicks and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and very nice with liberal remains of painted decoration. Nice root marks in areas.

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October 17, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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