Description:

Pre-Columbian, El Salvador and Mayan Territories, ca. 650-850 CE. The tremendous variety in style and design of Mayan pottery is oftentimes overlooked. This pair of ceramic vessels demonstrates that Mayan pottery was far from mono-stylistic. Mayan art gave almost free reign to the artist who was not required to fit the \"cannon\" of their culture. The Mayans encouraged individualism and a great deal of variation among the different workshops emerged. In this way, these ancient creations are more akin to art of the modern period than we may realize. One of the pieces in this lot boasts a graceful basal shoulder and a painted program comprised of three Mayan deities separated by pseudoglyphs comprised of X shapes surrounded by concentric circular motifs, all delineated in black on cream background with rich red bands accentuating the contours of the form. The other pot exemplifies a Teotihuacan influence with its embrace of geometry in the incised and painted abstract pyramidal/mountain forms and step motifs. If you appreciate the diversity of Mayan ceramic styles, you will surely love this pair! 4 1/4\"T x 5 1/2\"D at widest (Teotihuacan-influenced vessel) 4\"T x 6 1/2\"D at widest (vessel with deities)

Provenance: Ex-Gilbert Martin Collection, Georgia, USA

All items offered for sale are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statutes 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, papered by our parent company, Artemis Gallery Ancient Art.

  • Condition: Normal surface wear on both pieces. The cylindrical vessel shows two stabilized pressure cracks but appears to be in excellent to near choice condition.

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March 14, 2014 9:00 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