Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Chorrera culture, ca. 9th to 4th century BCE. Wow! A striking ceramic vessel in the form of a jaguar claw, with four massive claws looming over the top and a fifth at the bottom. These frame a projecting human face - a figure with elaborate facial markings, tattoos or scarification. Twin spouts rise from either side of the bowl, as if from the top of the paw. The cylindrical bowl is behind the paws. Four holes - one on the underside of each claw - allow this item to be played as an instrument. Music has accompanied Ecuadorian life for millennia, and we are aware of Chorrera whistling bottles like this one, sculptures of people playing pipes, and percussive instruments. As for us today, they were played both ritually and during periods of celebration. Size: 6.25" W x 5.7" H (15.9 cm x 14.5 cm)

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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#141547

  • Condition: Repaired from several large pieces. Repairs are well done and almost impossible to see. Still playable. Small areas of surface wear commensurate with age.

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January 24, 2019 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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