Description:

Pre-Columbian, either Quiche region, Guatemala Highlands, Late Classic, ca. 600-900 CE or Belize, Lamanai, Mayan culture, Post Classic period, ca. 1250-1550 CE. The ancient Mayans attributed cosmic properties to the crocodile, a creature that symbolizes the world above the perilous waters of Xibalba, the underworld, a place of fear ruled by death gods and their assistants. Note the complex pattern created with appliques and striking aqua blue and red pigment. Another possible interpretation of this iconography is that the net-like pattern references the mat glyph of rulership. According to scholar Jim Aimers, the Mayan site of Lamanai in Belize is quite unusual as it was not abandoned like many sites in the ninth century. Rather it flourished in the subsequent Postclassic period. Lamanai was a major center of ceramic artistry. Thanks to archaeological research that has been ongoing for more than three decades, beautiful examples have been unearthed at the site. 4"H x 3 1/4"D at widest

Provenance: Ex-Marc Poolos Collection, Chicago, IL, acquired prior to 1970



All items in this auction are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statute covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

  • Condition: One circular applique and one or two small filets missing. Else intact and nice pigment. Excellent to near choice.

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April 16, 2014 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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000