19th C. Cast of Yaxchilan Lintel 25, Lady Xok and Vision Serpent 19th cent.

depicting the hallucinatory vision of Lady Xoc, wife of the ruler Shield Jaguar, kneeling in elaborate huipil and jewelry, gazing up at the Vision serpent rising from the bloodied and burning papers of her bloodletting sacrifices, with a warrior holding a spear emerging from the gaping jaws of the double-headed serpent, a head of Tlaloc emerging from the other end of the serpent, with glyphic inscription noting the scene occurring in AD 681; framed in wood covered in cork.  

George Parkin Atwater

David Atwater, by descent from above by 1930's

By descent from above by 1980's

The casts belonged to the Atwater family since the early 1900's. They were reported to have been exhibited at the Chicago World Exposition of 1893, where they were a number of casts of Maya stela and reliefs. Acquired by George Parkin Atwater (1874-1932), Rector of Church of Our Savior, Akron, Ohio, and noted author of The Episcopal Church, Its Message for Men of Today, 1917, the casts were left to his son David Atwater who attended Columbia University. They were exhibited near the President's office under the dome of the Low Library at Columbia for approximately 30 yrs until the mid 1940's when they were removed due to concerns of potential damages in WW II . They were stored in a family vault until the 1980's. Lintel 24, lot 67, was loaned to the Americas Society (Center for Interamerican Relations), Discovering the Maya, Photographs by Teobert Maler and Alfred P. Maudslay, curated by Ian Graham and Diana Fane, September 24- December 24, 1986.

 

Overall fine, some loss of cork frame as visible in photo on top left side . This cast has no wood sheet at the back , the plaster front shows some knicks but condition looks intact.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.