Honduras, Mayan Ulua Valley Ceramic Vessel with Protruding Monkey Head Handles
This is an excellent example of a painted Mayan ceramic vessel from Honduras, Late Phase. It is decorated with two bold monkeys with large tails. There is a band of glyphs around the top edge of the vessel, and glyphs separating the monkeys below. The monkeys' heads are cleverly sculpted in three dimensions to form the handles. The bottom of the vase is painted to resemble a classic Ulua Valley marble vase. This the finest known example of a Mayan vase depicting a monkey from the Mayan region of Honduras. A similar vase is illustrated in the Mayavase.com website, reference number 5668. Formerly in the Eisenberg estate in CT, prior 1980.
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 5 3/4" (14.6cm) x Diameter: 4 7/8 (12.5cm)
•SOLD
P3050
Guatemala, Mayan Tepeu 1 Style Mayan Painted Cylinder With Complex Palace Theme
This Tepeu 1 Style cylindrical vessel features complex iconography and a hieroglyphic inscription under the rim. There are two young, idealized male lords who likely represent Maize gods, as well as isolated floating motifs which are common in Mayan art. Deity heads with long snouts appear in front of the lords, possibly representing headdresses or possibly representing actual deities. The sets of three lines at the bottoms may represent stands or tripods for the masks. This vessel was reported on by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth and exhibited at the MIHO Museum in Osaka in July of 2011. See Hellmuth's Late Classic (Tepeu 2) Vases: Throne Scenes essay for reference. Vases with Hieroglyphic Inscriptions Formerly in the collection of Hiroshi Miura, Tokyo, Japan, prior to 1969.
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 7 1/2" x Diameter: 5 1/4" inches
$12,500
N5026
Guatemala, Mayan Ceramic Tripod Plate with Profile of a The Maize God Hun Hunaphu
The glyphs on this plate translate to LORD and the figure depicted is the Maize god Hun Hun Hunaphu. He is the father of the Hero Twins as told in the Maya creation myth, Popol Vuh. He can be identified by the extreme sloping forehead and tuft of hair on top of his head. He also wears a necklace with a pendant and elaborate ear ornaments. This plate has a "kill hole" above the eye, which was in the center of the plate. The plate was likely used to serve corn dumplings at a Mayan ritual feast. Private collection, acquired in Tokyo, Japan, prior to 1970.
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Diameter: 12" (30.5 cm) x Height: 3"(8 cm)
$7,000
n6014
Guatemala, Mayan Ceramic Plate with Capybera and Glyphs
This beautiful plate features a Capybera, a giant rodent with an unusual large rectangular head that is native to South America. Cabyberas are highly social animals that inhabit dense forest areas and were hunted by the ancients as a meat source. There is a kill hole in the center of the plate above a glyph on the animal.
Media: Ceramic
$6,000
N6013
Guatemala, Mayan High Walled Dish with Repeating Monkey Motif
This dish features a repeating scene of monkey serving a dish featuring a cacao pod with seeds, followed by a glyph with the sound of O. It is likely that the monkey is serving a chocolate dish; chocolate was revered by the Mayans as a life-giving substance. The bottom is attractively painted with a typical Mayan brush design.
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 2.5" x Diameter: 7.25"
$6,000
n5050
Mexico, Mayan Ceramic Figural Rattle of A Female Figure with Child
This high-ranking noble Jaina female wears a cloth and feather turban, ear spools, a heavy beaded collar piece and a slip-on quexquemitl over a skirt decorated with roundels and cross-hatching around the hem. Her face has a discreet scarification pattern in the center of the forehead and around the upper lip. The male child lying at her feet has a similar turban, beaded necklace, and a simple loincloth. Jaina-style figurines were exchanged along a 500 mile trade route. These figurines were hand-modeled with hollow, mold-made bodies, and joined to plain backs made by hand or molded. This figure can function as a whistle, flute, or rattle. For the Maya, enabling figurines to make sound animated them with the essence of life: air.
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 8 1/2"
$4,500
N6011
Mexico, Jaina Ceramic Efiigy Whistle of a Seated Woman
This cast ceramic whistle depicts a lady with a tattooed face, holding her hand to her breast. Post-fire blue pigment outlines the edge of her huipil, which was knotted on the upper right side of her chest.
Mold-cast figurines are thought to be later than solid hand modeled examples. Jaina Island, off the coast of Yucatan, was used as a cemetery for high-ranking nobles from the mainland.
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 7"
Condition: With a minor chip on the right foot.
•SOLD
88167
Mexico, Mayan Stucco Face of a Ruler
This Mayan ruler wears stone headdress and has carefully crafted facial features. It originates from Chiaps, Mexico, and was formerly in the collection of Hiroshi Miura in Tokyo, Japan, prior to 1970.
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Height: 11 1/2 x Width: 7" Depth: 6 1/2"
$22,000
n3046
Mexico, Mayan Carved Limestone Relief of a Jaguar in Profile
This relief carved Mayan limestone tablet features a jaguar carved in profile with original red pigment, resembling a famous Mixtec stone stela with warriors wearing similar jaguar face masks. The tablet was exhibited in Tokyo in the Museum of Tobacco and Salt’s Animal Designs in Ancient America in February 2002 and was formerly in the collection of Hana Gallery in Tokyo prior to 1970.
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Height: 13 1/4" x Width: 15" Depth: 5 1/4"
Weight: 45 lbs
$28,000
n3047
Mexico, Early Post-Classic Mayan Stucco Head Depicting a Priest
The priest’s eyes are looking down as if the head was placed high up on a wall.
Ex. collection Hana Gallery, Tokyo, prior to 1970.
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Height: 10" x Width: 8 1/2" Depth 7 1/2"
$27,000
n3045
Mexico, Chontal Green Stone Mask with eyebrows
Classic Chontal style mask with unusual depiction of the eyebrows, which are etched into the stone. Similar masks are illustrated in CHONTAL: ANCIENT STONE SCULPTURE FROM GUERRERO MEXICO, page 59, A, B, C. & page 60. There are strong root marks all over.
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Width: 6 1/4" x Height 7"
$12,000
N5021
