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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Mayan Bowls, Plates and Vessels : Mayan Terracotta Bowl Raised on Four Legs
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Mayan Terracotta Bowl Raised on Four Legs - CK.0601
Origin: Mesoamerica
Circa: 300
AD
to 900
AD
Dimensions:
4" (10.2cm) high
x 8" (20.3cm) wide
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Medium: Terracotta
$4,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Ancient Mayan art was composed of a complex symbolic language with
extremely important social functions. Mainly commissioned by kings
and other high elite, works of Mayan art fulfilled both political and
social purposes. Because the art functioned as a type of language, to be
understood by the entire population, a certain consistency in subject
matter and its portrayal was necessary. While this limited the Mayan
artist's individual creativity to some degree, where he could distinguish
himself was the detail of execution, as revealed in this extraordinary
polychrome quadruped bowl. Detailed polychrome figures, glyphs and
decorative patterns on the surfaces of the vessel attest to the Mayan
artist's skilled line work, a calligraphic tradition that rivals that of the
Chinese. In fact, the Maya invented a brush identical in form to the
Chinese brush, to fulfill the same function--as the tool for calligraphic
line work in both painting and writing. Although the Ancient Mayan
symbolic language on this vase may be unclear, what is known for
certain is the pleasure that is experienced when we behold this
remarkable and highly spirited work of ceramic art.
- (CK.0601)
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