100% of the Hammer price of all lots sold in this auction will be donated to Community Food Share by Artemis Gallery. $1.00 = 3 meals!

**Originally Listed At $4000**

Pre-Columbian, Guatemala Highlands, Mayan, ca. 250 to 900 CE. An exceptional carved volcanic stone owl sculpture, carved in the round and delineated with wide-open round eyes, a pointy beak, feathered wings, and a marvelous circular amulet that appears to be strung and tied around the bird's neck. The owl was widely symbolic in the Pre-Columbian world. Owls were considered Shamanic, guiding humans on their journeys to other worlds, the divine, and death - described in the Popol Vuh as messengers of Xibalba, the sinister underworld. In some cultures an anthropomorphic owl represented a warrior or war god. Also common were naturalistic depictions of barn owls. Size: 5.75" W x 8.875" H (14.6 cm x 22.5 cm)

This sculpture comes with authentication paperwork from Hasso von Winning, a leading expert of Mesoamerican art. Von Winning's statement reads in part, "A whimsical representation of an owl, resting on a square base, large and round eyes deeply carved in contrast to the small beak. This owl shows a pair of wings gracefully folded to the back, its claws are visible, and wears a necklace with a pendant, carefully knotted in the back. I have inspected this stone owl and it is an authentic Mayan artifact"

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection; ex-Milton Birnbaum collection, Los Angeles, California, USA; comes with authentication paperwork from Hasso von Winning, Ph.D., Consultant in Mesoamerican Archaeology, Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA, dated June 19, 1977.

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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#132244

Minor losses to periphery of integral plinth/base. Expected surface wear with nicks to high pointed areas. Nice tinges or red cinnabar remain on areas of the surface.



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