Lot 78B
Pre-Columbian, Maya, Ulua Valley, Honduras, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A hand-built polychrome vessel of an amphora-like shape with twin loop handles joining neck to shoulder. Most impressive is the decorative/iconographic program featuring an intriguing zoomorphic figure on each side - perhaps a monkey or a bat - presenting a wide-eyed, open-mouthed expression and splayed limbs, and wearing a beaded necklace. Above and encircling the neck is an attractive band of stepped, striated, geometric, and cross-hatched motifs. Size: 7" W handlespan x 5" H (17.8 cm x 12.7 cm)
Nocturnal bats - the only winged mammals that fly - were believed to be as ominous as owls among Pre-Columbian cultures. Swooping and darting in the night sky, the ancients of the Americas linked these creatures to both the underworld and sexual potency, the sexual connotations in turn associated with rain and fertility. Simian iconography was quite symbolic in the Pre-Columbian world, and the monkey's whimsical antics have always fascinated human beings. Simultaneously interpreted as both a mimic and a contradiction of human culture, the monkey was thought to mediate between man and the supernatural. What's more, as the wind aspect of Kulkulkan/Quetzalcoatl, the monkey was worshipped throughout the Pre-Columbian world. This adoration for monkeys would persist in to the modern era, appealing especially to early 20th century artists such as Frida Kahlo.
Provenance: private Vaught collection, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#126911
- Condition: Repaired from about a half dozen pieces. Normal surface wear with slip loss and a few scuffs/nicks commensurate with age and exposure. Scattered manganese deposits. Former inventory stickers on the base.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| 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 |