Description:

Pre-Columbian, Panama, Cocle, ca. 800-1000 CE. Ah, the wondrous iconography of the kingdom of Gran Cocle Pre-Columbian kingdom of Central America! This large pedestal dish features the hallucinogen-induced transformation of shaman; note the feline and crocodilian features with sting ray barbs in the background. The form is unusually large and was used as an incensario as the triangular cut-outs in the base demonstrate. All is painted in hues of purple, red, black, and cream. According to scholar Samuel Kirkland Lothrop, "The Gran Cocle culture is a Pre-Columbian archaeological culture that gets its name from the area from which it was based, the now present-day Cocle province of Panama. The Gran Cocle term applies to a loosely studied group of Native American sub-cultures in this region, identified by their pottery styles. The overall period spans a time from 150 B.C. to the end in the 16th century A.D. upon Spanish contact. The most ancient culture is the La Mula period from 150 B.C. to 300 A.D. The La Mula and later Monagrillo and Tonosí pottery styles are identified by their the use of three paint colors which were black, red and white (or cream). The later Cubitá style saw the emergence of the use of four colors. The styles of Conte, Macaracas and Joaquín added purple to their palette and this hue ranged from grayish tones to red purple. The use of purple disappeared in the subsequent styles of Parita and El Altillo and the paint style reverted back to the use of three colors. Most notable in the artistic renderings are the overt use of geometric designs." Clearly an example of Macaracas artistry, quite rare for its anthropomorphic and zoomorphic iconography as well as museum quality! Measures 10" (25.5 cm) in diameter x 5 3/4" (14.5 cm) high. Provenance: Ex-J. Berryman private collection, Florida. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. #101445

  • Condition: Minor surface wear. Wonderful manganese blooms. Overall near choice!

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March 19, 2015 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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