Maya Skulls Cylinder

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #473406
MA571

A fantastic Maya cylinder vase from the Peten region of Guatemala, ca. 550 - 700 AD. This highly burnished vessel is decorated with a series of incised skulls, portrayed laughing and showing a protruding tongue. This beautiful vase depicts an important scene from the Popul Vuh. The nodes on the rim identify it as originating in the Southern Peten region, save for a couple stabilized stress cracks it's in excellent condition, with nice deposits and root marks.

Cute Set of Five Nazca Textile Hummingbirds

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #471559

This cute little grouping of multi-colored hummingbirds was originally part of a much longer series that formed the fringe of a larger Nazca textile. While I have no idea what happened to the original textile, these five have managed to hang together for about 1500 years and deserve to stay together!

The Nazca civilization of Peru was one of the most advanced of its day. They developed advanced farming methods that ... Click for details

Quimbaya Incensario

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre 1492: item #458337
QU6

A wonderful incised Quimbaya incensario from the Caldas complex in the Middle Cauca region of Colombia, ca. 1000 - 1400 AD. This excellent vessel is deeply incised with intricate geometric patterns and has two suspension lugs. Superb workmanship, good mineral deposits, a rare example in superb condition.

See Labbe's "Columbia Before Columbus", page 80, for similar examples.

Maya Polychrome Bowl

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #454070
MA589

An exceptional Maya bowl from the Campeche area of Mexico (probably Calakmul), 8-1/2" diameter. The complex glyphic text in part refers to "....... his vessel for (his) writing....", perhaps making this a vessel presented to a scribe for services rendered. This particular style of painting utilized a stiff reed, instead of a brush, to create these stippled effects. One restored crack, else in excellent shape with nice deposits and root marks. ... Click for details

Large, Affordable Pre-Columbian Nayarit Figure

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #445990

This is a nice Nayarit shaft figure of a seated woman sculpted in the act of eating. Her elaborate hair and nosering imply that she represented a person of moderate social standing, but her placement on the ground instead of on a bench indicates that she was not a person of great importance. Still, this is a very human and attractive piece offered at a very low price for the type!

Nayarit is one of the modern states... Click for details

Choice Pre-Columbian Seated Figure, Nayarit

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #445989

This sizable Nayarit figure is of a seated cacique, who leans forward attentively with his head cocked at a personable angle. Armand Labbe notes in "Shamans, Gods & Mythic Beasts..." that the seated bench posture is ubiquitous throughout the Pre-Columbian world as a symbol of power, an interpretation further bolstered by the relative scarcity of these pieces compared to other human figures from Pre-Columbian shaft tomb burials. Labbe notes that even today, the bench is an important cultural icon... Click for details

Maya Avian Deity Bowl

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #437966
MA549

An exceptional Maya Avian Deity bowl from El Salvador, ca. 600 - 800 AD. The interior of this 8-1/4" diameter, carinated vessel features two creatures with vulture heads and bat wings, surrounding three concentric circles. The exterior is lavishly decorated with two bands of finely detailed glyphs. The upper register consists of nine distinctly different glyphs, each incorporating symbols indicative of days of the Maya ceremonial calendar and representing a spoken message. The lower band con... Click for details

Chancay Couple

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre 1492: item #437807
CY162

An exceptional Chancay couple from Peru, ca. 1100 - 1450 AD. The male is 10-1/2" tall, virtually perfect. The horns on his head, combined with the painted tumi emblem, are most likely indicative of his status as a shaman. He is depicted with a traditional sling wrapped around his body. The female is 10" tall and has a little chipping on the right foot. Both have complex avian designs on their faces and hands representing ritual tattoos. They show nice deposits and have great brown and cream... Click for details

Nazca Avian Bowl

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #420351
NZ229

An excellent Nazca bowl with avian motif from Peru, ca. 100 - 400 AD. This 6-7/8” diameter vessel features four large birds, most likely parrots, boldly painted against a white background. Some staining, probably from inclusion in a mummy bundle, light pitting inside. Great example.

Colima Peyote Vessel

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #418284
CO355

An excellent Colima Peyote jar from West Mexico, ca. 300 BC - 300 AD. This beautifully formed blackware vessel has a 9-1/4” diameter, with the buds formed as lobes. Its surface is nicely burnished, has good root marks and deposits, with only minor pitting to mar perfection. An excellent example of a rare type.