Pre-Columbian, Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 1000 to 200 BCE.; Southern Mexico, Maya, ca. 100 to 900 CE; A fabulous collection of 22 pottery items from ancient Mesoamerican cultures: 16 heads from larger figures or appliques to vessels, 1 figural lime pot, 1 jaguar effigy lid, 3 miniature helmets, and a mold-made glyph. Most of the heads are characteristically Olmec, in a "baby face" style with chubby, pouty facial features and incised eyes, and one with slightly more naturalistic and adult features is probably Maya. The petite figural vessel was probably used to contain crushed lime powder for rituals. The 3 helmets are in animalistic forms and likely was worn by a pottery warrior figure. The jaguar lid may have fit onto a special urn or vessel. Size of largest head: 3.5" L x 2" W (8.9 cm x 5.1 cm)

Most of these pieces have an animal in common, the jaguar. The Olmec figures have what is often referred to as "were-jaguar" features or lips, their pouty mouths seem to snarl like they are in a transformative state, channeling a jaguar. Warriors, shamans, and rulers were associated with jaguars symbolic of strength, courage, and supernatural abilities. One of the helmets is in the form of a jaguar head that would have fit over a pottery figurine of a lord or warrior - the openwork eyes for the figure to "see" through. The incensario lid is also a snarling jaguar head, the animal was probably intended to protect the contents of the vessel it once capped. Many rulers during this time took jaguar names: Shield-Jaguar and Bird-Jaguar, for example. One of the Hero Twins described in the Quiche book Popol Voh, the most famous Maya text, is named Xbalanque, which is almost certainly derived from the word for jaguar, "balam", and that twin is shown in art with jaguar pelt markings on his face and body.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

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

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#173374

Heads are fragments of larger pieces. Chips and fissures throughout. Nice manganese blooms on many pieces and light mineral deposits. Tl holes on necks of 5 pottery heads - these 5 heads are shown together in one photo.