Μάγια, Πετεν-Αρέα, Γουατεμάλα Κυλινδρικό κύπελλο από τερακότα των Μάγια με καπάκι. (με άδεια εξαγωγής από την Ισπανία) - 34 cm

Mayan Terracotta Cylindrical cup with lid. 600 - 900 AD. 34 cm H. With spanish import license.

Mayan, Classic Period, 600-900 AD, Terracotta, 34 cm in height.

PROVENANCE: Bagot Gallery, Spain ; Private collection, Philadelphia, United States (1960-1970).

With spanish import license.

CONDITION: Intact, it has only lost the tip of the crest of the fantastic character that the glass has.

DESCRIPTION:

The Maya civilization extended over a large area, from present-day south-central Mexico to Guatemala and Honduras. The area has three distinct geographic regions—the mountains and highlands, the tropical jungle lowlands, and the lowlands of the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula—each with its own landscape and natural resources. During the Classical Period, the Mayans lived in the highlands and lowlands, in which Tikal and Kaminaljuyú were their major population centers, respectively.

The Mayans developed a unique artistic style with a degree of complexity that rivals that of European baroque. Their extremely life-like, anatomically proportionate human images are found in natural poses that emphasize movement. Their art represented sacred, ritual and hierarchical themes, although they also reproduced scenes from daily life and images of local fauna such as monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, bats, quetzal birds, fish and turtles. Stone was one of their favorite media, and they used it for their buildings, stelas, and the low- and high-relief sculptures that adorned their buildings. The Mayan’s architectural contributions include the stela-altar, the arch and the false vault. In addition to monumental art they also had a highly developed personal esthetic, manufacturing ear ornaments, pendants, necklaces, masks and other adornments out of jade. They deformed their craniums and noses and hung ornaments on their foreheads to make them squint-eyed.