Donated By: Donick Cary, Emmy-Award winning writer/producer (Letterman /Simpsons / Parks and Recreation /Silicon Valley)

Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico and northern Central America, Mayan Territories, Late Classic, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A rare depiction of a star on a Mayan tripod plate. The exterior is ringed with labyrinthine and bubbled abstract motifs, while the star is alone in tondo on a bright orange field. The star is painted with black lines forming its four points and round red rings at each corner. This is surrounded by an eight-pointed, sun-like motif. The star glyph, "Ek'", is sometimes called the "Venus" glyph, but in reality it seems to have stood for stars, planets, and constellations. Size: 12" W x 2.7" H (30.5 cm x 6.9 cm)

Adjectives were used to denote specific celestial bodies - so "chak ek'", "great/red planet" was the actual name for Venus. The ek' glyph was sometimes placed with other celestial concepts, such as the signs for sun, moon, and darkness, to indicate divinity - for example, those glyphs appear together on the sarcophagus of one of the kings of Palenque, seemingly saying that he will soon be joining the stars and planets in the sky.

Painted Mayan pottery like this was used for feasting, ritual purposes, and as prestigious gifts given to emphasize the power of the giver and bind the recipient to them through a form of purchased loyalty. Maya kings and queens might give them to local governors. The artists who created them were also often minor royalty or nobility, especially the ones who could paint glyphs - literacy seems to have been reserved for the Mayan elite.

Provenance: private D. C. collection, California, USA; D. C. is an Emmy Award winning Hollywood writer and Executive Producer, collected before 2000

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.

#126496

Repaired from two pieces. Repair is well done and hard to see, with tiny overpainting along the break line. One leg has been replaced. Excellent root-marked surface with nice remaining pigment.

______________________________

Making music happen since 2009…

Today, Musack's mission is to give kids and teens a voice through music by providing guitars, drums, and support for music teachers - wherever the need arises.

But back in 2009, Emmy-Award winning writer/producer Donick Cary (Letterman /Simpsons / Parks and Recreation /Silicon Valley) began Musack with a simple vision - raise money to fund musical programs for his hometown high school on Nantucket Island. After a rash of teen suicides on the island, Donick thought about how he and his friends got through their teen years. Music.

Musack continues to make music happen around the world with support from people like you. All lots offered for sale in today’s fundraising auction have been donated by celebrities, non-celebrities, and local businesses. Help us help our kids - bid high, bid often!

Donick Cary
President, Musack.org

Don’t miss our 2017 Musack Rock n’ Roll Carnival!