Macabre Maya Cylinder Skeletal God A Chak Kerr Database

Macabre Maya Cylinder Skeletal God A Chak Kerr Database:

Pre-Columbian, Northern Peten, Guatemala, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. Amazing! Presenting macabre and incredibly striking motifs, this is a ceramic cylinder vessel with rich iconography. It was probably given as a gift during a feast and used for drinking cocoa. It is tall, with a wide mouth and an unpronounced rim whose edge is gently curved. It stands on a flat base with gently upturned edges, and the sides taper very slightly to the mouth. One complete side of the exterior body is dominated by a painted profile of a composite skeletal image of God A and Chak (he wears the pendant of Chak) in animal form. He stands on all fours and appears to be inside a darkened cave, possibly the underworld. Glyph bands adorn the top rim and run diagonally up one side. Size: 6.625″ W x 9″ H (16.8 cm x 22.9 cm)

God A is one of the Maya codical death gods, known to us only from early colonial-era documents and from the work of 19th century scholar Paul Schellas, who named the gods for letters from the Roman alphabet because at the time Maya hieroglyphs could not be read. A figure similar to God A is referred to with many different names by modern Maya people – often Kimi or Ah Puch – and is the Lord of the Underworld (known variously as Xibalba or Mitnal depending on the dialect). God A is often painted as he is here, as partially dead, with grey, decaying flesh and skeletal bone structure. He is meant to be both terrifying and grotesquely funny, and this portrayal, with its askew teeth and bulbous nose, embodies both. Modern Maya folklore still considers God A a threat – creeping around the houses of the sick, waiting to take them to Xibalba.

Showing a chiaroscuro technique seldom seen with such naturalistic result. Note the background behind the WHAY figure is delicately shaded to give the effect of depth, possibly indicating a cave opening, portal to XIB’AL’BA. This area has not been altered by modern restoration! The deity’s three-dimensional rib cage, and skeletal arms and legs become even more gruesome with this unique and innovative shading technique used by the scribe.

Published in The Maya Vase Database created by Justin Kerr, Kerr number 9132

Provenance: ex-private Florida, USA collection; ex-Chuck Warren collection, Coconut Grove, Florida, USA, acquired in the 1970s; ex-Erasmo Toledo collection, Coral Gables, Florida, USA, acquired in the 1960s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#161062
Condition
Professionally repaired from multiple pieces with restoration over the break lines. Normal surface wear commensurate with age. Imagery is still very strong.