Maya polychrome pottery cylinder vessel with supernatural underworld dog, Late Classic ca. 600–900 AD
Maya polychrome cylinder, alternate side showing second zoomorphic canine figure
Maya polychrome cylinder, close view of pseudo-glyphic hieroglyph band
Maya polychrome cylinder, detail of skull-like Xibalba death's-head motifs on red ground
Maya polychrome cylinder, view of shell and scroll-volute nocturnal underworld elements
Maya polychrome cylinder, top-down view of rim and repaired join lines
Maya polychrome cylinder, upper register detail of cream, red, and black slip palette
Maya polychrome cylinder, ancient drilled repair holes on side
Maya polychrome cylinder, macro view of hatched fur pattern on dog figure
Maya polychrome cylinder, alternate hero angle showing complete narrative
Maya polychrome cylinder, three-quarter view of full circumference
Maya polychrome pottery cylinder vessel with supernatural underworld dog, Late Classic ca. 600–900 AD
Maya polychrome cylinder, alternate side showing second zoomorphic canine figure
Maya polychrome cylinder, close view of pseudo-glyphic hieroglyph band
Maya polychrome cylinder, detail of skull-like Xibalba death's-head motifs on red ground
Maya polychrome cylinder, view of shell and scroll-volute nocturnal underworld elements
Maya polychrome cylinder, top-down view of rim and repaired join lines
Maya polychrome cylinder, upper register detail of cream, red, and black slip palette
Maya polychrome cylinder, ancient drilled repair holes on side
Maya polychrome cylinder, macro view of hatched fur pattern on dog figure
Maya polychrome cylinder, alternate hero angle showing complete narrative
Maya polychrome cylinder, three-quarter view of full circumference
Maya polychrome pottery cylinder vessel with supernatural underworld dog, Late Classic ca. 600–900 AD
Maya polychrome pottery cylinder vessel with supernatural underworld dog, Late Classic ca. 600–900 AD Maya polychrome cylinder, alternate side showing second zoomorphic canine figure Maya polychrome cylinder, close view of pseudo-glyphic hieroglyph band Maya polychrome cylinder, detail of skull-like Xibalba death's-head motifs on red ground Maya polychrome cylinder, view of shell and scroll-volute nocturnal underworld elements Maya polychrome cylinder, top-down view of rim and repaired join lines Maya polychrome cylinder, upper register detail of cream, red, and black slip palette Maya polychrome cylinder, ancient drilled repair holes on side Maya polychrome cylinder, macro view of hatched fur pattern on dog figure Maya polychrome cylinder, alternate hero angle showing complete narrative Maya polychrome cylinder, three-quarter view of full circumference

Mayan Polychrome Pottery Cylinder Vessel with Supernatural Dog

17548

$5,500.00
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Late Classic Period, circa 600 to 900 AD. 

Deep ritual vessel painted in a slip palette of red, cream, and black/brown typical of highland Guatemalan workshops such as those associated with the Chamá and peripheral codex-style traditions. The upper register shows a pseudo-glyphic band of hieroglyphics, representing a PSS. The schematic, non linguistic character of these "glyphs"  indicates a workshop on the periphery of the major Classic centers, where scribes  imitated the codex/glyph convention decoratively rather than knowing true hieroglyphs.

The towering zoomorphic figure to either side, likely a dog, with ears pricked, elongated muzzle, and hatched fur, exhibit features consistent with a supernatural canine—a Maya Underworld dog, believed to guide souls through Xibalba, the "place of fright".   Small skull-like and shell-like motifs scattered in the red background are classic markers of Xibalba scenes — death's-head cartouches, conch/shell elements, and scroll-volutes indicating watery or nocturnal underworld atmosphere.

The scene probably references mythic/Underworld narrative rather than a historical court event. Supernatural dogs appear alongside Death Gods and the Hero Twins' journey through Xibalba in the Popol Vuh cycle, and recent scholarship also interprets such zoomorphs as way beings — animate spells or personified illnesses dispatched by sorcerers, which are a well-documented theme on Late Classic cylinder vessels

Size 8 3/4 in. H, x 5 1/2 in. Diam., Repaired from approx. 6 large fragments and in-painted at the join lines.  Also there are two sets of two ancient drilled holes, a signs of ancient repairs with cracks to either side but the fastener (probably organic) gone. 

Provenance:  Formerly in the collection of Mario Villa (1953–2021), Nicaraguan‑born, New Orleans–based artist and designer, noted for his distinctive furniture, sculpture, paintings, and jewelry.

Every object is guaranteed authentic and as described, and has been legally acquired and imported in accordance with U.S. and applicable foreign regulations on the movement and sale of antiquities. A signed certificate of authenticity with a description and photograph accompanies this object. Any restoration is described on the invoice.

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