Maya Lidded Tripod Vessel

Louis (1930-2013) and Dena Marienthal, Los Angeles

Sotheby's, New York, African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art, November 20, 2000, lot 324

European Private Collection, acquired at the above auction

Thence by descent

The vessel is distinguished by the unusual iconography with the lid and basal flange treated with a punctate pattern, supported on openwork slab feet in the style associated with Teotihuacan, the walls and molded heads encircling the body of the vessel, the top and handle of the lid, possibly depicting monkeys, with slit eyes and gaping mouths.

There is an association of monkeys with cacao which was considered a gift of the gods, with this precious crop sequestered in sacred groves. The coveted cacao pods appear on Maya painted vessels and molded as a volumetric monkey surrounded by cacao pods atop a censer lid in the Tonina site museum.

See Kerr mayavase.com K7454 for a tripod vessel with a monkey-decorated lid.