MAYA, Classical period, 600 - 900 A.D. - Lot 125

MAYA, Classical period, 600 - 900 A.D. Vase depicting a palace scene with a lord and a shaman priest Polychrome terracotta Broken, glued, slightly restored Dimensions: H. 21 cm x Diam. 15.5 cm Provenance : Sale Maître Jouan, Sens, October 8, 2005, lot 74 bis Collection of Professor Kenneth Graham This painted scene illustrates the ceremonial and political life of the classical Maya kingdom. The lord, seated on a canopied throne, symbolizes political and spiritual authority. Opposite him, the shaman priest, dressed in ritual costume and wearing a jaguar mask, performs a purification rite using a sacred instrument, emphasizing his role as intermediary between the earthly and spiritual worlds. The braided frieze framing the scene reflects the attention to decorative detail typical of vases from this period. These objects were not only utilitarian, but also artistic and cultural testimonies, used during sacred rites or in prestigious contexts, revealing the complexity of Mayan social and religious structures. Expert: Serge REYNES