Pre-Columbian, Guatemala, Mayan, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A hand-built tripod terracotta plate presenting a wonderful abstract depiction of the creation of the Maya Hero Twins from the seed of their deceased father on the tondo in red, orange, and black hues; notice the janiform heads of these legendary Creation twins - their profiles emerging from each side of the central design with an ovoid seed form in the middle, two pairs of legs/feet emerging from the other end, and stylized pairs of arms situated before the faces as well. This composition is in turn surrounded by concentric black and red bands with short frets adorning the rim. In the very center is a ritual kill hole. Size: 11.875" in diameter x 2" H (30.2 cm x 5.1 cm)

The Maya Hero Twins (Hunahpu and Xbalanque in the K'iche language) are the primary figures of the Popol Vuh and are usually represented as complementary forces such as sky and earth, life and death, sun and moon, day and night, male and female; this quality of duality came to be omnipresent throughout the Pre-Columbian world. Though many versions of the Hero Twins myth exist, the only surviving written narrative, that of the Popol Vuh, is as follows. The Hero Twins Xbalanque and Hunahpu were ballplayers like their father and uncle, Hun Hunahpu and Vucub Hunahpu, who were summoned to Xibalba by the Lords of the Underworld only to be defeated and sacrificed. However, these two sons were conceived from the 'seed' of their deceased father (their pregnant mother fled from Xibalba). The Twins grew up and were determined to avenge their father. Following many trials, they finally defeated the lords of the Underworld in the legendary ballgame.

Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA acquired over twenty years ago

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.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#123149

Repaired from three pieces with visible break lines. Nicks to rim and expected surface wear with pigment loss as shown, though the imagery is still fairly vivid. Ritual kill hole in center.