A Large Teotihuacan Tripod Vessel ...

Description

A Large Teotihuacan Tripod Vessel
Central Mexico, Early Classic, circa 100-400 AD

Earthenware a buff color with red pigments remaining in the incisions and negative spaces. With two carved plano-relief panels: one with a frontal view of the Great Goddess, the principal deity of Teotihuacan, with bisected goggle eyes, serpent tongue, and bird headdress. The other panel encloses a frontal view of the War Serpent with snarling face and clawed feet. Warriors on murals at the ancient city of Teotihuacan typically are shown wearing this image as a headdress. The three rectangular slab feet supporting the bowl have openwork crisscross designs. In very good condition; assembled from original parts with professional restoration over the repairs on the inside and exterior, the underside showing break lines. The fact that this unusually large vessel depicts the two most important deities of Teotihuacan attests to its importance to the people of the ancient culture.

Provenance:
A Private Collection, New York, NY, acquired in 2003
Ancient Art of the New World, New York, NY

Diameter: 12 ¾ inches

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