Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Native American, Southeast or Midwestern United States, Mississippian, ca. 900 to 1543 CE. A collection of 7 pottery head fragments in the form of stylized birds and fish that once adorned the rims of vessels, functioning as handles, effigies, and one that contains a clapper ball inside functions as a rattle. Six display beaks and crested heads, some with incised or applied eyes - likely ducks which were symbolic beings that could move across realms: in the air, on the ground, and diving underwater. The seventh head resembles a fish with a bulging eye and puckered lips. Size of largest: 2.5" L x 0.6" W (6.4 cm x 1.5 cm)

Provenance: private Kansas City, Missouri, USA collection, ex-John Townsend collection, formed in the 1970s and earlier.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#162032

  • Condition: Fragments of larger vessels or effigies as shown. Chips and abrasions to each, but most facial details are preserved. The L-shaped gray head contains a rattle ball and still emits sound.

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May 26, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000