Pre-Columbian, Guatemala and southern Mexico, Maya, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A remarkable blackware cylinder vessel incised with 3 skulls that recall the relief imagery of the Tzompantli or "Wall of Skulls" of Chichen Itza - a stone rectangular platform decorated with over 500 bas-relief skulls where the Maya would hang the trophy heads of their enemies. Trophy heads were a near-universal constant in Mesoamerican imagery for millennia, although by the Classic Maya period it seems more likely that the taking of actual trophy heads had (mostly) been replaced by the ball from the ballgame (in the Popol Vuh, a decapitated head is used instead of a rubber ball). Scrolling speech bubbles appear to protrude from the mouths of these skulls as though they are the talking. Note the linear designs adorning each skull - appearing almost as zoomorphic imagery! Size: 5.1" Diameter x 8.1" H (13 cm x 20.6 cm)

Residue analysis on vessels like this one show that they were used for drinking chocolate, a hugely popular and ritual practice amongst the Maya, especially the elite. Although we know little about the artisans who made vessels like this one, we do know that cylinder jars are often associated with tombs, sometimes ritually broken. Prominent Mayanist Michael Coe has connected the scenes depicted upon the most important of these vessels with the sixteenth century Maya written epic, the Popol Vuh, which describes Maya religion and mythology, as this one does.

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

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#175092

A few miniscule chips to rim and expected nicks and abrasions throughout. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressively preserved imagery and great root marks in areas.