VASE REPRESENTING "THE DRAGON MONSTER" Olmec culture,... Lot 38

VASE REPRESENTING "THE DRAGON MONSTER" Olmec culture, Las Bocas, Mexico Middle Pre-Classical, 1200-900 B.C. Ceramic with black slip and cinnabar remains H. 17,5 cm - L. 18 cm Olmec Las Bocas "Dragon monster" effigy vessel, blackware ceramic with cinnabar remains, Mexico, H. 6 7/8 in - W. 7 1/8 in Provenance: Private American Collection Acquired by the present owner in 1989 Ancient Art of the New World, New York David Bramhall, New York Eugenia Rassiga, New York This beautiful vase represents the effigy of the "Dragon Monster", which combines the characteristics of the caiman, the cat and the snake. The dragon's head is surmounted by a crest composed of flame-shaped eyebrows. This motif is found in the form of a glyphic logogram on the flanks of the mythical creature, accompanied below by the "wing-foot" motif associated with the dragon. Other patterns are present on the monster's chest as well as on the quadrangular base. There is a bevelled neck at the back of the head. (Joralemon, 1971 and 1996).