**Originally Listed At $4000**

Pre-Columbian, Maya culture, Guatemala, Late Classic period, ca. 600 to 900 CE. Truly a wonder to behold - an incredibly rare pottery bowl exquisitely carved with glyphs - a band surrounding the rim and 8 additionally adorning the bottom - each boasting intricate detail. Even the form of the vessel is unique with a 4 spiraling grooves on the base that surround a central tondo of an incised checkered pattern. Expertly sculpted, these ancient symbols display a wide variety of motifs such as geometric designs, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic faces, and scrolling patterns; they may convey an important date, a secret message, or simply be part of the vessel's aesthetic program! Size: 8.3" W x 2.6" H (21.1 cm x 6.6 cm)

According to Dorie Reents-Budet, "One of the remarkable characteristics of Classic Maya...pottery is the use of writing as more than simply a way to communicate ideas. As in the Islamic tradition, Maya artists employed calligraphy as a prime design feature and as an integral part of the total composition… The hieroglyphic texts also were used as compositional devices, placed specifically to help define the internal tensions, balances and divisions within the pictorial field." (Dorie Reents-Budet, "Painting the Maya Universe: Royal Ceramics of the Classic Period", Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1994, page 12)

The Maya Classic phase is so named because it was the peak of their artistic and cultural achievements. Part of this, as in many societies, included highly specialized consumable goods. Elaborate vessels like this one were designed to be instantly distinguishable from those used for everyday eating or drinking - not just in decoration, but also in quantity produced, making these a much rarer find than your average piece of domestic pottery. They were also made to be for only a single, specific function - in this case, to hold something valuable.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

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

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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#175102

Professionally repaired with restoration over break lines and a few stable hairline fissures. Minor chipping to rim and small loss in area on wall just below rim. Some expected nicks and abrasions as shown. Otherwise, excellent with impressive preservation of glyphs and nice root marks to interior basin. Great remaining pigment. TL holes to underside of base and exterior wall just below rim.