Lot 165, Auction 3/19/2026: Mesoamerican Pottery Turtle Vessel, Stamps, & Obsidian

$325.00

In stock

Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Costa Rica, ca. 500 BCE to 1500 CE. A group of 4 artifacts including a charming pottery vessel shaped like a turtle, two stamps, and flaked obsidian. The vessel is has a rounded body adorned with red-painted geometric motifs, nubbin legs, and a flared spout as the head. One pottery stamp has a geometric fret panel and another with a stylized anthropomorphic or deity face, likely referencing Tlaloc as suggested by the prominent circular eyes. Completing the ensemble is a glossy black eccentric obsidian blade fragment with sharply flaked edges, its sinuously contoured form evoking a serpent or centipede. Size of vessel: 4.75″ L x 2.75″ H (12.1 cm x 7 cm)

Condition: Obsidian stone has a velcro mount on the verso from a previous display, easily removable. Old chips to edge of Tlaloc stamp. Turtle vessel has fading to painted motifs, but otherwise intact.

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection

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