Lot 65
Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Maya, Ulua Valley, ca. 600 to 900 CE; West Mexico, Post-Classic period, ca. 900 to 1500 CE. A Maya Ulua Valley quadripodal cylinder vessel and a West Mexican Post-Classic hemispherical bowl form this compelling Pre-Columbian ceramic pairing, uniting two distinct regional traditions in a single presentation. The larger vessel, cylindrical in profile and supported on four short, rounded legs, exemplifies the refined ceramic production of the Ulua Valley in present-day Honduras. Its substantial walls and thick, slightly everted rim frame a deep interior, likely intended for serving cacao or maize-based beverages in elite or ceremonial contexts. The surface bears remnants of warm red and ochre slip with darker painted elements now gently worn by time. Elevation on four supports lends the vessel a subtle architectural authority, recalling temple platforms and reinforcing its association with status and ritual display. Size of larger: 8" Diameter x 5.4" H (20.3 cm x 13.7 cm)
Ulua ceramics circulated widely through exchange networks and are recognized for their technical control and balanced proportions.
In contrast, the smaller bowl from West Mexico presents a more intimate scale and restrained decorative program. Hemispherical in form, it features a red-painted rim encircling the lip, creating a vivid chromatic accent. Just below, a continuous incised band wraps around the shoulder, composed of linear and geometric motifs cut into the clay prior to firing. The incision work produces a delicate interplay of line and shadow across the matte surface. Such red-rimmed and incised bowls are characteristic of Post-Classic western Mexican traditions, where subtle surface treatment and carefully controlled form were central aesthetic concerns.
Together, the cylinder and bowl demonstrate the breadth of Pre-Columbian ceramic expression - one defined by monumentality and elevated presence, the other by precision and quiet ornament. Each preserves the hand of its maker and reflects the varied social and ceremonial worlds of ancient Mesoamerica.
Provenance: private Rogers, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Bosio collection, Miami, Florida, USA, 1960-2000
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#200211
- Condition: Larger vessel has been repaired with infill and repainting along visible break lines. More petite has been repaired with restoration over break lines; done very well and difficult to notice. Both have weathering to surfaces and scattered earthen deposits throughout.
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