**Originally Listed At $1000**

Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A graceful blackware bowl with thick walls incised with a minimalist, linear decoration. Sitting upon a planar base, the cylindrical vessel boasts an abstract pattern of horizontal, vertical, and curved lines - possibly representing jaguar footprints - along the exterior of its lower half. Olmec pottery was often created to give power to the shaman or ruler- the clay was coaxed into meaningful forms which imbued the substances or liquids they held with power. Such vessels could be used to aid special persons to attain the power to cross into other realms. Note the liberal remains of stucco and cinnabar along the surface! Size: 7.3" Diameter x 4" H (18.5 cm x 10.2 cm)

For a similar example and more information about Olmec blackware, please see the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website, accession number: 2014.244.8.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Nayella V. collection, Chula Vista, California, USA, acquired via descent

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#179574

Some small areas of repair and restoration to rim - all done very well and barely noticeable. Nicks and abrasions to surface, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with good preservation of incised decoration and liberal remains of stucco and cinnabar in areas.