Lot 79
Pre-Columbian, Mexico and Guatemala, Mayan Territories, Late Classic, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A tall, narrow, ceramic cylinder depicting a deer hunt in low relief around its exterior body. The interior is painted black and otherwise undecorated. The deer hunt is beautifully depicted, with two human figures, multiple deer, and weapons visible. One of the deer is posed in a particularly striking manner, its head twisted around to observe the hunter at the moment of attack. A cylinder like this was probably made for consuming the popular chocolate drink that was ritually ingested throughout Mesoamerica. Size: 4" W x 6" H (10.2 cm x 15.2 cm)
The Maya hunted the white-tailed deer extensively, making hunting a popular theme of Mayan artwork. Deer are one of the most commonly depicted animals in Mayan art, rivaling jaguars, monkeys, and snakes in number. Their meat was a major source of protein, as the largest game animal in the region; their hunt also had sacred significance. From the few surviving codices of the Maya and ethnographic information from the Spanish and modern day Maya people, we know that the act of hunting required the hunter to enter into a partially supernatural realm and interact with various Lords of the Animals, the most ancient characters among all the magical beings and deities in the Mayan pantheon. There were rules to hunting that involved honoring the prey, and not taking too much from the forest. The beauty of the depiction on this vessel emphasizes importance and sanctity of the Mayan relationship with the deer.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection
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#126822
- Condition: Repaired from three large pieces, with small areas of overpainting around the base covering repair lines. Excellent root marks on interior and very clear motifs overall.
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