Pre-Columbian Maya Lidded Tripod Cylinder Vessel
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Early Classic Maya Lidded Tripod Cylinder Vessel
Maya Lowlands | Early Classic Period, Tzakol Tradition
A finely proportioned Maya ceramic vessel with a fitted lid, distinguished by its creamy slip and deep maroon-red painted bands. The cylindrical body rests on three hollow supports, each pierced with a small vent hole. A gently sloping lid rises to a sculpted handle reminiscent of the cut stem of a gourd or squash.
The restrained decoration emphasizes the vessel’s elegant silhouette. Traces of negative-resist ornament remain discernible across the body and lid, while orange coloration surrounds a dark firing cloud on one side. Its palette and form relate stylistically to pottery associated with Santa Rita Corozal in northern Belize and the wider Petén region. The lidded tripod form reflects the influence of Teotihuacan on Early Classic Maya ceramic traditions.
An old label on the underside reads “Tikal – Classic period – 3000.” This records an earlier attribution; the vessel’s precise archaeological findspot is unconfirmed.
Condition: Very good overall preservation. One tripod foot was cleanly broken at its junction with the underside and reattached. Otherwise intact, with minor rim chips, surface wear, and fading to the negative-resist decoration. The cream slip and maroon-red bands remain well preserved.
Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Elisa Corado Escobar de Hernandez, prior to 1965; subsequently in a private Boston collection, 1970s. Ex. Private Ohio collection.
Dimensions: 10 inches high × 6 inches in diameter.