MAYA, Mexico-Guatemala, Classic period (600 - 900 A.D.) - Lot 8

MAYA, Mexico-Guatemala, Classic period (600 - 900 A.D.) Cylinder-shaped vase incised with two bifid-tongued rattlesnakes and stippled decoration Brown, beige and orange terracotta Small micro-crack, marks of time H. 18.5 cm x Diam. 13.9 cm Provenance : Former private collection, California, USA Artemis Gallery, 11/02/2018. Collection of Professor Kenneth Graham. In Mayan culture, the rattlesnake was a powerful symbol of transformation, fertility and connection with the underworld. It was also associated with major deities such as Kukulkan, embodying cosmic force and the balance between the earthly and the celestial. The snakes incised on this vase illustrate the spiritual and cosmological importance of this animal in Mayan iconography, reinforcing the ritual character of this object. Expert : Serge REYNES