Lot 147
Pre-Columbian, northern Peru, Chimu, ca. 1100 to 1400 CE. A fine mold-formed pottery stirrup vessel depicting a seated figure holding a llama over his shoulders. Coated in a lustrous hue of dark grey, this charming vessel showcases a circular base, a rounded shoulder, and a stirrup spout protruding from one side forming a handle. The shoulder of the vessel also serves as the shoulder of the figure whose head sits at the top. Looking upwards under a conical headdress, the figure's visage features a broad mouth, a wide nose, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes under an arched brow. A pair of naturalistic ears adorned with earspools flanks his head. The llama lays across his shoulders as the man grasps the animal's front legs with his right hand and its hind legs with his left. The curious creature raises its head, peering outwards and displaying pointed ears and a pronounced snout. Size: 6.25" L x 4.125" W x 7.875" H (15.9 cm x 10.5 cm x 20 cm)
A belt with a petite loin cloth wraps around the vessel near its base, the rotund body of the vessel creating a bulbous belly for our main figure. The figure's attenuated legs are shown near the bottom of the vessel, positioned bent upwards at the knee.
The llama was the most essential domesticated beast in the Peruvian highlands, since it was the only pack animal available, providing multitudinous purposes as a source of food, transport, wool, and manure for fertilizing crops.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, 2013; ex-Bill Freeman collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, before 2000
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#161337
- Condition: Collection label on base. Two petite chips to rim. Some light craquelure to glaze near base. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining pigment and earthen deposits on interior.
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