**Originally Listed At $2000**

Pre-Columbian, Mexico or Guatemala, Maya Culture, Early Classic Period, ca. 250 to 600 CE. A remarkable pottery vessel presenting a round bottom and annular rim over a shallow basin, all supported by 3 rattle legs in the form of inverted peccary heads and adorned in hues of burnt sienna, cream, and black. All downward facing, each of the ovoid peccary heads displays petite round ears and a flared snout, in addition to containing small rattle balls to produce a lovely sound when shaken. Remains of coffee bean-shaped eyes can be seen in a light cream pigment on each of the heads. The interior of the bowl presents an incised design of 3 concentric rings formed from dashed lines and filled with dozens of petite dots. Size: 12" in diameter x 5.5" H (30.5 cm x 14 cm)

Peccaries are bull-snouted wild pigs found in the Mesoamerican jungle. There are two species of peccary with whom the Maya would have been familiar, the collared peccary (also called the javelina), and the white-lipped peccary; although peccaries are frequent subjects of Mayan art, especially ceramic art, it is often difficult to discern which species is being depicted. The ancient Maya associated peccaries with the structure of the universe and the time of creation. They are thought to have represented the four pillars that support the corners of the world. In addition, some Maya identified clusters of stars in the constellation Gemini as peccaries. This constellation is located in the region of the night sky where the seminal event of Maya creation - the resurrection of the maize god - was believed to have occurred.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private New York, USA collection; ex-Vargas collection, from the 1980s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#165537

Still functions as a rattle. Repair to 1 leg with break lines visible and some restoration. Expected surface wear with nicks, chips, and abrasions throughout. Otherwise, very nice with rich manganese and earthen deposits.