Antiquities returning to Mexico include Mayan vase sold for $4 in US store

[sl8]

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2024, 05:39 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/antiquities-returning-mexico-include-mayan-vase-sold-4-us-store-2024-06-21/

Antiquities returning to Mexico include Mayan vase sold for $4 in US store

By Reuters
June 20, 2024 9:36 PM EDT Updated 8 hours ago



A Mayan vase over 1,000 years old and purchased for about four dollars at a Washington area thrift shop, will return to Mexico along with other cultural artefacts that date to the country's storied ancient past, at the Cultural Institute of Mexico in Washington, D.C., U.S., this handout distributed on June 20, 2024. National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)/Handout via REUTERS
[photo via msn]

MEXICO CITY, June 20 (Reuters) - The Mexican government will welcome back 20 cultural artifacts that date to the country's storied ancient past, all found in the United States including a Mayan vase over 1,000 years old and purchased for about $4 at a Washington area thrift shop.

Mexico's antiquities institute INAH announced the repatriation, which also include centuries-old plates, bowls as well as sculpted figures belonging to the Aztec, Totonac and Teotihuacan cultures, in a statement on Thursday.

[...]

According to a Washington D.C. television news report on Monday, local resident Anna Lee Dozier bought the Mayan vase for $3.99 from a clearance rack at a nearby thrift store about five years ago.

Likely made during the Maya civilization's classical zenith between 200-800 A.D., according to INAH, the well-preserved vase is a colorful polychrome vessel painted with ornate glyphs and depicting seated figures in profile gesturing with their hands.

[...]

[EYESORE 9001]

1. Damn

This is gonna send me into a lot more curiosity shops - as if I didn’t go into plenty already.

[Judi Lynn]

2. So glad that object sidestepped the revages of time and thoughtless people to appear so much later!

It looks to be in remarkable condition, suffering only fading of the paint, probably being simply worn off from too much handling.

Astonishing!

Thank goodness someone finally thought to have it studied by someone who knows about pre-Colombian objects.

Hope it will have a safe, protected future!

[2naSalit]

3. I think the "paint" is...

An interesting thing most widely known as terrasigilata (terrasig for short) and is made by grinding colored clays and elements into a fine powder, adding water and painting it on the object prior to firing. In a pottery class I took, long ago, we made terrasig for our primitive pieces that we made and fired with dung. It was very interesting. I still have a few pieces I made in that class.

It's amazing that the piece in the article has survived modern man.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Had no idea any paint could hold up before firing without spreading out in a murky mess. Impressive.

It's clear that the artist really knew what he/she was doing. The images are completely distinct.

It's mind-blowing to see one without pieces missing, or without being held together with glue.

Any images of creating pottery have always looked interesting! So much to learn.

Native citizens throughout the Americas have done amazing things in the process. Had heard about the black-on-black amazing pieces done in the pre-US west, and Japanese Raku, never had learned about terrasigilata.

Glad you kept some of your work!

Great way to spend time. No doubt you could pick up where you left off, too, if you decided to do some more. Tremendous skill to learn.

[2naSalit]

5. You kind of have to...

Have a lot of stuff to glaze with terrasig, it takes days on a power mill to make each color. But the end results are uniquely fabulous.

The black on black is either terrasig application or a surface treatment (burnishing) for the shiny parts and unburished for the matte. What makes it black is manner in which it is fired, reduction process, by snuffing out the fire abruptly and letting the fire go out under the heap, dig your stuff out when it's cooled. By robbing the fire of oxygen, it causes the remaining oxygen to rush out of the clay and is replaced by carbon and it all comes out black.

Did Raku too, that's fun at night!

[LeftInTX]

6. I wonder how it ended up in a thrift store?