"Archeologia Important Mayan Terracotta Cover Guatemala"
ARCHAEOLOGY / PRIMITIVE ARTExceptional and important pre-Columbian terracotta lid
MAYA culture, Classical Guatemala (300 to 500 AD) ?
Cylindrical shape, the top of the lid features a relief fiery sun (with its rays), with the form of a face.
This sun face is framed by a circular frieze of raised elements (fruits?), glued with slip and repeated in cycles of 4 different elements.
The edge is surrounded by a very long crawling snake, of which 4 prominent loops (1 missing) served as rings to lift this lid.
4 relief warriors figures, all similar, are also reported in slip using the same technique (these elements seem to have been molded like the elements constituting the circular frieze around the sun), on the side of the cylindrical cover: in movement due to the position of their legs, they brandish above their head a powerful weapon ending in the shape of hook.
The side of this cylindrical shape is also originally pierced with 4 holes.
The terracotta - low temperature firing, presents on its reverse side different shades of orange-brown, to whiter and blacker shades.
Old vernacular restorations visible on photos and regluing of elements of the body of the snake on the edge.
A missing leg from one of the warriors on the side, which seems to be an original defect.
Condition of excavation, and visible restoration, of the "archaeological" type"
with cracks from original firing defects of terracotta, old fillings of missing parts (please check my photos; possible sending of additional photos on request)
Superb overall patina for this enigmatic and very unusual pre-Columbian archaeological piece.
Large dimensions:
Approximately 32cm in diameter and 23cm in height
Thank you in advance for any help or clarification you could give me in the description, attribution or dating of this very beautiful collector's item.
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