Pre-Columbian, Mayan Territories, early Postclassic period, ca. 1100 CE. A small round vessel with a three-dimensional frog design. The frog's face is beautifully naturalistic; a hole in the pottery under its chin was deliberately placed to prevent losses (exploding frog head) during the kilning process. All four legs are shown in folded position on the body as is a point for the tail. Plumbate pottery, created during the Postclassic period, is a highly distinctive, hard grey glazed ware that spread throughout Mesoamerica and Central America; the shiny grey vessels have also fascincated archaeologists, explorers, and collectors. The name comes from the idea that the glaze contains lead, but this has been proven untrue through chemical analysis - instead, it seems that these vessels are merely made from a petrographically distinct type of clay paste. Size: 5.2" W x 2.5" H (13.2 cm x 6.4 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Private Maricopa County, AZ collection

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#118391

Intact, expected age wear to surface