Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico and northern Central America, Mayan Territories, Late Classic, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A rare depiction of a star on a Mayan tripod plate. The exterior is ringed with labyrinth and bubbled abstract motifs, while the star is alone in tondo on a bright orange field. The star is painted with black lines forming its four points and round red rings at each corner. This is surrounded by an eight-pointed, sun-like motif. The star glyph, "Ek'", is sometimes called the "Venus" glyph, but in reality it seems to have stood for stars, planets, and constellations. Size: 12" W x 2.7" H (30.5 cm x 6.9 cm)

Adjectives were used to denote specific celestial bodies - so "chak ek'", "great/red planet" was the actual name for Venus. The ek' glyph was sometimes placed with other celestial concepts, such as the signs for sun, moon, and darkness, to indicate divinity - for example, those glyphs appear together on the sarcophagus of one of the kings of Palenque, seemingly saying that he will soon be joining the stars and planets in the sky.

Painted Mayan pottery like this was used for feasting, ritual purposes, and as prestigious gifts given to emphasize the power of the giver and bind the recipient to them through a form of purchased loyalty. Maya kings and queens might give them to local governors. The artists who created them were also often minor royalty or nobility, especially the ones who could paint glyphs - literacy seems to have been reserved for the Mayan elite.

Provenance: private D. C. collection, California, USA; D. C. is an Emmy Award winning Hollywood writer and Executive Producer, collected before 2000.

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#126496

Repaired from two pieces. Repair is well done and difficult to see, with tiny overpainting along the break line. One leg has been replaced. Excellent root-marked surface with nice remaining pigment.