Description:

Pre-Columbian, north coast of Peru, Chavin culture, ca. 900 to 200 BCE. A fossilized camelid bone carved into the form of a jaguar head atop a long curved neck. The face is wonderfully detailed, with bulging eyes, deep nostrils, and a leering mouth full of spiky teeth. The top of the head is drilled into for attachment to an atlatl, where this item would have acted as a weight to balance the weapon. Based on artwork from Chavin ceramics, we know of a class of people in the ancient society who carried a barbed spear in one hand and an atlatl in the other. Size: 2" W x 2.15" H (5.1 cm x 5.5 cm); 4.9" H (12.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany

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#143745

  • Condition: Fossilized bone is a fragment, with some losses from edges, especially lower part of neck. Light scratching and wear on surface commensurate with age.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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