Description:

Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, Honduras, Ulua Valley, Late Classic Period, ca. 600 to 850 CE. A finely painted polychrome cylinder vessel from the Ulua Valley, distinguished by bold avian iconography and rhythmic geometric design. Crafted during the Late Classic Period, this vessel reflects the artistic sophistication of the southeastern Maya world, where regional Ulua traditions merged with broader Mesoamerican stylistic currents. The vessel features a continuous frieze of stylized bird-like figures with splayed wings, curled tail elements, and expressive, mask-like faces. Interspersed among them are black square motifs - possibly symbolic glyphs - framed by scrolling borders that evoke serpentine or celestial patterns. The painterly execution, in hues of orange, black, and cream, remains vivid and confident, applied with mineral-based pigments over a smooth burnished surface. Size: 6.5" Diameter x 6.9" H (16.5 cm x 17.5 cm)

These vessels were likely used in elite contexts for serving cacao or other ceremonial substances and may have been placed as offerings in burials. The bird imagery possibly alludes to sky deities or supernatural messengers, underscoring themes of spiritual ascent and divine communication in Maya cosmology. A masterful example of Ulua ceramic artistry, this vessel embodies both local identity and the interconnected aesthetic of the greater Maya sphere.

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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#194272

  • Condition: Area of professional repair to rim with restoration and repainting over break lines. Weathering to surface as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with good remaining decoration and earthen encrustations to areas.

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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