Pre-Columbian Maya Holmul Polychrome Cylinder Vase – Classic Period

An exceptional Maya polychrome cylindrical vase from the Holmul region of the Petén, Guatemala, dating to the Classic Period (ca. 550–850 AD). Hand-built in fine ceramic and painted in bold red and cream slip, this vessel features dynamic diagonal banding with circular glyph-like medallions, topped by a horizontal register of abstracted motifs. The decoration is executed in the distinctive Holmul style, celebrated for its energetic, curvilinear compositions and vibrant color contrasts.

Holmul vases were often elite drinking vessels, likely used for cacao-based beverages during ceremonial feasts and rituals. The form, iconography, and painting style closely align with other known Holmul workshop pieces, suggesting an origin in one of the powerful city-states along the Holmul River trade network.

Condition:
Surface wear consistent with age; mineral deposits and small areas of paint loss; stable stress line near rim. No modern overpainting detected.

Dimensions:
6 1/8" x 4 1/4"

Provenance:
Ex, David Fincher, TX, Ex, Bob Awe Texas, collected prior to 1970.

Shipping inside the US. only