Pre-Columbian, Maya / Toltec, ca. 900 to 1200 CE. A detailed, well-made vessel in the form of a snarling jaguar; the body of the vessel includes jutting arms, legs, and short tail. Low relief designs give the jaguar a geometric pattern on its body and what looks like a large necklace. The spout is wide and flanged near the slightly flared rim; the glaze is orange and a deep red. Size: 8.5" L x 6.25" W x 5.6" H (21.6 cm x 15.9 cm x 14.2 cm)

The jaguar's face has a wonderful lifelike quality that suggests careful attention to detail and knowledge of the actual animal in the wild. This is a "plumbate" pottery jar, a distinctive style of pottery from late Classic and early Postclassic Mesoamerica. Plumbate pottery is distinguishable by its uniquely shiny -- sometimes even iridescent -- glaze that has been fired at very high temperatures. Plumbate ware was probably made by a very small number of artisans around the Mexico/Guatemala border who then exported them throughout wider Mesoamerica. You can shake this piece and still hear the rattle that is located under the chin of the jaguar!

Provenance: Ex-Private New York Collection, ex Southwest collection

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#119548

Intact aside from very small loss to ear and tiny chips to spout, with heavy encrustation in a band around the face/middle of the body of the vessel.