Much of Mayan art was dedicated to the glorification of their great kings, priests, gods and to their remarkable concept of time. In the artistic expression of the Myriad aspects of this complex culture, the Mayan craftsmen excelled in the ability to fit design, form and function in such a way as to employ each component to its maximum, while at the same time achieving an integrated aesthetic unity. This magnificent polychrome cylinder vase is an extraordinary example of this artistry. The vessel's painted surface reveals the Mayan adeptness at brushwork as well, for, like the Chinese, much of Mayan pictorial art and virtually all of their writing was in the calligraphic line work in both writing and paining. In this stunning vase we see the characteristic spontaneity and calligraphic quality of Mayan pictorial art, rendered in the mural manner, a linear style that befits the smooth vertical surface of the vase. Both the dramatic figures and the patterned bands evidence an art form truly extraordinary, one that communicates powerfully with the modern world, while at the same time transmitting eloquently the life of the Ancient Maya in fascinating detail. HT. 17.1cm(6 3/4IN) : DIAM. 16.5cm(6 1/2IN)