Lot 109

Aztec Monumental Pottery God Mictlantecuhtli (3 pcs)

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Lot 109
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Aztec Monumental Pottery God Mictlantecuhtli (3 pcs)
Aztec Monumental Pottery God Mictlantecuhtli (3 pcs)
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Aztec Monumental Pottery God Mictlantecuhtli (3 pcs)

Estimate: $29,000 - $43,500

Starting Bid: $14,500

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 11, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Aztec Empire, ca. 1000 - 1450 CE. Monumental three piece natural buff color pottery sculpture depicting the god Mictlantecuhtli who was the primary Aztec god of death and ruler of Mictlán, the lowest underworld, governing the dead alongside his wife, Mictecacíhuatl. Depicted as a skeleton chested figure with a skull face wearing owl feathers, he was deeply feared and associated with the north, spiders, bats, and the 10th day sign, Itzcuintli. Having fleshy arms and legs and beautifully rendered fingers. A very impressive and rare example. *Note: this figure is very low fired and will not render a dating curve with TL testing, despite numerous attempts. "Lord of Mictlan", in Aztec mythology, is a god of the dead and the king of Mictlan He is one of the principal gods of the Aztecs and is the most prominent of several gods and goddesses of death and the underworld. The worship of Mictlantecuhtli sometimes involved ritual cannibalism, with human flesh being consumed in and around the temple. The Aztec holiday Hueymiccaylhuitl, or great feast of the dead, celebrated the recently deceased and helped them as they traveled to Mictlan. Following someone’s death, the Aztecs would cremate the departed person’s remains. From there, the deceased soul would embark on a four-year journey through the various levels of the underworld and have to overcome a series of trials along the way. Eventually, those who had successfully completed the journey would find themselves in the deepest level of the underworld: Mictlan. Hueymiccaylhuitl was celebrated not only to aid those embarking on this journey, but also to allow the dead an annual opportunity to return and visit the land of the living. Size: 50.25”H x 17”W (127.6 x 43.2cm).

Provenance: Private Florida collection. Ex. Barry Kernerman, Toronto, ex. Samuel Dubiner collection, Tel Aviv, Israel, acquired 1950’s, with copies of substantial provenance documents from Kernerman, available on request.

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Item # 71563

  • Condition: Some remaining flesh tone pigment on his body and white painted highlights. Repaired from approximately twenty-five pieces with restoration over the break lines, partially restored ear spools and scattered restorations, which is expected for a piece of the type and size.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 + $1,000