A MAYAN POLYCHROME TRIPOD CEREMONIAL CHOCOLATE BOWL, late Classic, ca 550-950 A.D.
Ceramic. Supported on tall striped tubular legs, painted in the interior in black with four quadrants, each with Coca flower, separated by guilloche bands, the center painted with a shield-like medallion of Tlaloc with goggle eyes, bracket mouth with row of upper teeth, and stepped headdress, the exterior flaring walls painted with the same motifs in red, cream and black. Diam 36,5, height 13,5 cm.
Repairs, retouches.
Saleroom notice
An Oxford Thermoluminescence analysis from November 2014 shows estimated last date of firing between 600 and 1000 years ago. The analysis will be enclosed the lot.
Provenance
Sotheby's New York, Pre-Columbian and American Indian Art, 17-18 May 2000, lot 158.
Literature
Schmidt, Peter, Maya Italy 1998 (included in the lot), compare bowls pages 369, 594, 644.
More information
The lot is a ceremonial chocolate bowl, to be used to serve an intoxicating coca drink to guests or more likely, because of the death god in the center, to prisoners of war to be sacrificed. Since chocolate easily form a skin on the surface it must be in motion, and with integral clay balls in the legs, a sound is made at the same time as the content is being rotated.