Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Central Highlands, Ibarra region, Caranqui people, ca. 500 to 1500 CE. This is a lovely trio of pieces, each carved from mottled greenstones, presenting a thick body and neck that curves outward. The largest is a snake or bird effigy, with an incised line creating a beak-like mouth, ending just before a drilled perforation that forms an eye. Though the largest and smallest stones are not pierced or incised, the mid-sized piece is highly polished with terminals that taper to rounded points. The last is the most angular, with flattened, planar faces. The minimalist nature and lovely coloration of the stones suggests a symbolic ceremonial purpose or was perhaps carved as a funerary offering. Size of largest: 4.5" L x 1" W (11.4 cm x 2.5 cm); smallest: 2.25" L x 0.5" W (5.7 cm x 1.3 cm)

Provenance: private California, USA collection, acquired 2004; ex-Gill Family collection, California, USA, acquired 1980; ex-Colonel William R. Cameron collection, California, USA

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#145166

  • Condition: Minor surface nicks and abrasions to all. Chips to periphery of the smallest piece. Stable fissure on the tip of largest. All are intact and very good. Highly polished and smooth surfaces.

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April 7, 2022 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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