Guatemala, Mayan Tepeu 2 Polychrome Dish with "Fat Cacique" and Victim
This painted ceramic features 5 figures. In one scene, a staffbearer oversees another figure with a jaguar kilt who is making a gesture of resignation. The second scene depicts three figures, including a surrendering victim presenting himself to his captor, who is joined by a member of his entourage. The captor is a recognizable in the Mayan lexicon idenfied by scholars Jason Kerr and Nicolas Hellmuth as "The Fat Cacique."
Bishop Diego de Landa, c. 1524 - 1579, also described this trope of captors and prisoners in Mayan art, referring to the victim's posture as a “sign of resignation or humility before a conqueror or superior person.” This vessel also depicts a scribe wearing a black mask, who appears to be painting the glyphs and narrating the story. The glyphs on both sides of the vessel likely provide the names of the characters in the story. This vessel was acquired from Gallery Hana in Tokyo, Japan, prior to 1970. This vase is illustrated in Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth's book, Mayan Vases, in chapter Chapter 10: Tepeu 2 Vases- Throne Scenes.
Guatamala, Mayan, Petan, Late Classic, c. AD 700 - 800 AD
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 4"
$8,500
n5025