Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, North Coast, Chimu- Inca culture, ca. 1470 to 1532 CE. A gorgeous blackware canteen vessel with a wide, flaring spout, and five spine-like lugs on the shoulders running from largest to smallest. The artisan impressed the surface with appliques of countless seed sized spines so the entire canteen resembles the sacred Spondylus shell. In addition, a petite applique of a complete spondylus shell form adorns both sides below the spout. Beyond this rich iconographic program, this vessel’s painstakingly burnished blackware is beautiful! Size: 11.5" W x 12.25" H (29.2 cm x 31.1 cm)

The Spondylus shell is native to Ecuador which during this period was part of the Inca Empire. A sacred mythical shell of the Incas, divers gathered the Spondylus from the depths of the Pacific ocean as offerings to Pachamama, goddess of fertility. The Spondylus carries numerous symbolic meanings; a symbol of fertility and elite social status, it was also believed to be an omen of rain, warning the indigenous of El Nino. In fact, the Spondylus shell only appears when the water becomes warmer during December- the time of the El Nino Current – immediately before the rainy season.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#157787

  • Condition: Nicks to rim and minor surface wear. Mineral deposits on surface. Incredible rich black glaze and detailed shell patterns!

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September 17, 2022 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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