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Maya Masked Standing Ballplayer Holding a Ball

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Maya Masked Standing Ballplayer Holding a Ball
<B>Masked Standing Ballplayer Holding a Ball</B></I><BR>Maya, Jaina<BR>A.D. 550 - 900<BR>Buff Ceramic, traces of paint<BR>Height 9 1/4 in. Width 5 3/8 in.<BR><BR>The masked ballplayer stands with legs firmly placed somewhat apart, his left arm extended upward from the body and his balancing lowered right arm holding a ball with the hand. He wears only a loincloth with a flap at the left side and a leaf-shaped longer flap in front with simple incised markings. His upper thighs to either side have two rows of vertical gashes at front and sides, the upper row of which extends across the back just below the waist. A twisted band is at either wrist. Even more attention-commanding than the gesture is the grotesque mask, whose grimacing features include a flap-like beard that bears a crudely incised upside-down schematic face. Prominent, bulging eyes appear behind the mask, while within the large oval exposed mouth area appear what most resemble grinning vertically-scarified lips. Eight pointed elements radiate forward around the face, while the mask is topped by a large knot above the center of which rise four tubular shapes with cut upper edges. These latter extend upward to a length as high as the full head of the wearer. While the overall condition of the upper body is good, the lower half of the front loincloth flap is a replacement, as is most of the right leg and the left leg below the knee.<BR><BR>Provenance<BR>Mr. & Mrs. Peter Wray Collection<BR>Splendors of the World, Haiku, Hawaii<BR><BR>