Lot 110

Classic Maya Jaguar Balam Effigy Lidded Urn, ex-Denver Art Museum

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Classic Maya Jaguar Balam Effigy Lidded Urn, ex-Denver Art Museum

Estimate: $6,000 - $9,000

Starting Bid: $3,000

(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

Pre-Columbian, Meso-America, Mexico or Guatemala, Maya., ca. 550 - 900 CE. Crowned by a crouching jaguar with a lolling tongue, this imposing terracotta lidded urn bristles with sculptural energy, its feline guardian presiding over a procession of mask-like visages and framed cartouches. Hand-built of earthenware by coil and modeling techniques, the domed lid supports the jaguar effigy while the globular body is encircled by bold appliqué panels, raised cords, and faces with earflares; mineral accretions and firing clouds confer a mottled tan and slate-gray surface consistent with ancient burial. Such effigy vessels were central to elite rites - likely serving as funerary urns for cremated remains or, perhaps, as incense burners (incensarios) - with the jaguar, báalam in Classic Maya, symbolizing rulership, warfare, and nocturnal passage between worlds. Size: 13.5" W x 14.5" H x 12.5" D (34.3 cm W x 36.8 cm H x 31.8 cm D)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report will accompany the item upon purchase.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired at auction. Ex Denver Art Museum, accession number 1984.598A.

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Item # 202598

  • Condition: repaired as usual but almost no new clay.

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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