Teotihuacan Stone Tlaloc Head Effigy Incensario Vessel

拍品描述

Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Teotihuacan, ca. 150–650 CE. A cylindrical vessel carved from a dense gray volcanic stone, its exterior worked in low relief into the frontal visage of Tlaloc, the storm and rain deity of Central Mexico. The god's signature goggle eyes bulge as concentric rings beneath a heavy ridged brow, joined by a broad nasal bar that sweeps into a curling upper lip; below, a row of vertical fangs descends to the tapered base. A zigzag band encircles the flaring rim, perhaps a stylized headdress or lightning motif. The interior is hollowed to a deep well, and burn residue at the mouth suggests use as an incensario, in which copal smoke would have risen through the deity's open crown. Such effigy braziers accompanied petitions for rain and agricultural renewal. Size: 6.25" H x 4.25" Diam (15.9 cm H x 10.8 cm Diam). Tlaloc governed rain, lightning, mountains, and the standing water of caves, and at Teotihuacan he shares the city's ritual vocabulary with the Feathered Serpent. He is recognized instantly by two conventions visible here: the ringed "goggles," widely read as a pair of intertwined serpents whose bodies loop around the eyes and meet at the nose to form the upper lip, and the fanged mouth beneath. The convention proved remarkably durable, passing from Teotihuacan into Toltec and later Aztec art, where the same face reappears on effigy jars and on the deity's shrine atop the Templo Mayor. Copal, the aromatic resin of Bursera trees, was the standard offering burned in vessels of this kind. Smoke was understood as the visible form of breath and cloud, so a brazier shaped as the rain god converted the offering into the very phenomenon being petitioned. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #204535

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