Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya, Copador type, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A beautiful hand-built pottery bowl with an interesting ribbed exterior and colorful motifs painted on the surface - abstract zoomorphic creatures or monsters! The 3 stylized animals around the exterior have canine heads - long tongues, bared teeth, and a curving snake like body and tail - perhaps a mythical being or representation of a dog spirit. Dogs were associated with death and leading souls into the underworld, so perhaps these animals were a symbolic guide for a ritual. The rim is painted with deep red band as is characteristic of Maya Copador pottery that was manufactured at Copan and traded widely throughout the southern Maya region. This is a strong example, replete with intriguing iconography! Size: 7.75" Diameter x 3.75" H (19.7 cm x 9.5 cm)

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#174907

Nicks and chips to rim and minor surface pitting, otherwise intact and excellent. Heavy manganese deposits across interior and exterior! Some fading to painted motifs, but clear and discernable.