VASE À COUVERCLECULTURE MAYACLASSIQUE ANCIEN, 250-450 AP. J.-C. |

Collection privée, Paris
Christie's, New York, 12 novembre 2004, n° 66
Importante Collection privée française

Berjonneau (G.), Sonnery (J.-L.) et Deletaille (E.), Chefs-d'œuvre inédits de l'art précolombien, 1985, p. 222, n° 336

Head portion very good condition, minor fill on the rim, the removable top of the head was repaired on the front lobe, the rattle horns appear to be good. Minors marks, and scratches. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. Representing an aged and frowning god, possibly God Itzamnà, with bodly accentuated features emphasizing the power and authority of the deity, the jaw surrounded by an etched beard, downward curving, petulant mouth, fleshy nose, large staring eyes, gaunt cheeks pulled back, the lid molded with the thick, arched brows with two pierced shaman's horns issuing from the sides, filled with clappers, and covered overall in lustrous black slip.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Si les vases figuratifs mayas conçus en deux parties sont une spécificité de la période du Classique ancien, ces céramiques représentent le plus souvent des personnages en pied, dont le buste forme le couvercle. Très rares sont les œuvres céphalomorphes, comme ici. Accentués par la teinte noire lustrée, les traits puissants et sévères - grands yeux circulaires, nez ridé et menton barbu - rappellent la divinité du Soleil. Les épais sourcils relevés forment la base du couvercle amovible, conçu comme un casque doté de tiges saillantes contenant des sonnailles. Il est vraisemblable qu’il ait fonctionné comme un cache-réceptacle dont l’ouverture était accompagnée par le tintement des cloches en céramique. Voir Reents-Budet, Painting the Maya Universe, 1994, p. 323, n° 19, pour le vase très apparenté conservé au Museo Popul Vuh, au Guatemala ; et Schmidt, de la Garza et Nalda, Maya, 1998, p. 640, fig. 480 et 481, pour d’autres vases figuratifs en deux parties. Voir aussi le vase figuratif en deux parties de la collection Barbier-Mueller, Sotheby's, Paris, 22-23 mars 2013, n° 123. Et pour un bol présentant un engobe noir et un faciès à cornes similaire voir Fields et Reents-Budet, Lords of Creation, 2006, p. 144, n° 46.

Maya two-part effigy vessels are a feature of the Early Classic ceramic tradition, but most often are full figures with the upper torso forming the lid. An individual head such as this form, is a rarely depicted type. This lustrous blackware vessel portrays a stern and forceful deity with bearded chin, wrinkled nose and large other worldly eyes indicating a transformed individual. Such google-eyes are a typical feature of the Palenque Triad deities, God GI-III, including the Sun god. Here the brows are thick raised bands and form the base of the removable lid which is designed like a helmet with projecting stems filled with clappers. Perhaps functioning as a cache vessel, raising the lid would have been accompanied by the sound of ceramic bells. 


For the head vessel in the Museo Popul Vuh, Guatemala, see Reents-Budet, Painting the Maya Universe, 1994, p. 323, no. 19; for the two-part figural vessels of the genre, see Schmidt, de la Garza, Nalda, eds., Maya, 1998, p. 640, figs. 480 and 481; see also the two-part head vessel from the Barbier-Mueller collection, Sotheby's, Paris, March 22-23, 2013, lot 123. And for a blackware lidded bowl bearing an exaggerated face and 'horns', see Fields and Reents-Budet, Lords of Creation, 2006, p. 144, no. 46.