Description:

**Originally Listed At $500**

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chavin culture, ca. 1200 to 500 BCE. An attractive mortar of a hefty, sizable form, hand-carved from mottled espresso-brown stone with beige, white, and black inclusions. The vessel has a lightly rounded but stable base with a discoid protrusions around the 'foot,' an expanding cylindrical body, a thick, flared rim, and a deep basin with a smooth surface. Large mortars like this example were used for grinding copious amounts of hallucinogenic substances in preparation for consumption; however, they were also used for more utilitarian tasks like pulverizing foodstuffs or grinding medicinal ingredients. A lovely mortar example from the ancient Chavin! Size: 6.375" W x 5.6" H (16.2 cm x 14.2 cm).

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany

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#148444

  • Condition: Area of repair to foot and base, with small chips and light resurfacing along break lines. Minor abrasions and nicks to base, body, and rim, with nicks to basin interior commensurate with use, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.

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June 25, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000