Lot Essay
Cf. Peter Wray Collection, Sotheby's, November 1985, lot 75
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PROPERTY FROM A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
MAYAN LIDDED AND CARVED TRIPOD VESSEL
EARLY CLASSIC, CA. A.D. 250 - 450
Details
MAYAN LIDDED AND CARVED TRIPOD VESSEL
EARLY CLASSIC, ca. A.D. 250 - 450
of graceful and fine proportion, the deep chocolate-colored thin-walled vessel supported on pierced slab feet of Teotihuacan style, precisely carved with four catouches, each enclosing the profile head of a young lord, with prominent speech scroll emanating from the mouth, wearing elaborate headdress incorporating plumes, bead ornaments and the profile head of a supernatural avian, each medallion separated by a band of glyphs and other glyphs of the Primary Standard Sequence, the domed lid with lipped edge, surrounded by a band of nine glyphs including '(it is) the drink-instrument (for) cacao (of) grandfather Yax Nah K'an (he is) the child (?) of K'uk B'alam (?) Ik,' the handle in the form of a head of the Principal Bird Deity, Vucub Caquix, depicted as a King Vulture with downward-curving beak, hatched eyes and scrolled ears adorned with an elaborately beaded headband incorporating a glyph device.
Height 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm.)
EARLY CLASSIC, ca. A.D. 250 - 450
of graceful and fine proportion, the deep chocolate-colored thin-walled vessel supported on pierced slab feet of Teotihuacan style, precisely carved with four catouches, each enclosing the profile head of a young lord, with prominent speech scroll emanating from the mouth, wearing elaborate headdress incorporating plumes, bead ornaments and the profile head of a supernatural avian, each medallion separated by a band of glyphs and other glyphs of the Primary Standard Sequence, the domed lid with lipped edge, surrounded by a band of nine glyphs including '(it is) the drink-instrument (for) cacao (of) grandfather Yax Nah K'an (he is) the child (?) of K'uk B'alam (?) Ik,' the handle in the form of a head of the Principal Bird Deity, Vucub Caquix, depicted as a King Vulture with downward-curving beak, hatched eyes and scrolled ears adorned with an elaborately beaded headband incorporating a glyph device.
Height 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm.)
Further details
Perhaps this vessel as well as others in this series might depict the portraits of Early Classic rulers or important dignitaries. Whereas the representation of Principal Bird Deity molded on the handle may be identified as the God Itzamna, an alternative namesake, and perhaps suggested that the individual portrayed might have carried within his personal name a reference to the bird associated with Itzamna, the Creator God.