Lot 199
Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chancay culture, ca. 1000-1500 CE. As the Wari aesthetic waned, Chancay artisans residing in the valleys north of Lima created ceramics in the likenesses of humans and animals with their own distinctive style and form. Chancay figural ceramics were usually fabricated with molds and stamps and painted with a limited color scheme of dark brown-black on white; however, this example departs from Chancay mass production and at times less-refined aesthetic. Although it is mold-made, hand-crafted refinement and poignant applied details such as the delicate beaded necklace are evident. Furthermore, the paint finish includes a vibrant red hue in addition to the more customary white and dark brown-black. In addition, the spontaneity of the painting and whimsical improvisation with geometry in the patterns enveloping the figure exudes unique vibrancy and charm that suggests a possible Wari/Huari influence. What's more, the animated facial expression and hand gestures suggest a Wari/Huari influence in this piece as well. The Chancay artisans usually made human figures in male-female pairs. This example represents a female possibly donning a simian mask. The function of such sculptures in the ancient Americas is yet to be revealed. Scholars suggest that these figures may have been placed in tombs as companions or guardians of the deceased in the afterworld; indeed the painted "ax's on the figure's chest are star-like and may indicate the celestial realm. Adding to the value of this piece is its provenance. Arthur M. Sackler was a scholar of the arts as well as an entrepreneur and philanthropist who endowed galleries at countless museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Chances are you have been a patron of a museum named for this man: Museum at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, the Arthur M Sackler Wing at the Royal Academy in London, or perhaps the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archeology at Peking University in Beijing. Any work that this astute connoisseur of art collected is of the utmost importance. 7"T x 3 3/4"W x 2 1/4"D
Provenance: Ex-Arthur M. Sackler collection.
All items in this auction are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statute covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
- Condition: Very minor surface wear. Otherwise intact and near choice.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |