Description:

Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Tairona, ca. 1000 to 1500 CE. A charming poporo vessel shaped from sheets and wire of tumbaga containing 37% gold. The petite vessel takes the form of a owl perched atop a slender branch with clawed feet and displays a fan-shaped tail beneath with spiraling coils of tumbaga wire. The plump body presents with a pair of slender wings protruding out on either side of a cord-patterned collar, and the narrow vessel spout doubles as the bird's 'neck.' The detachable head is hollow in form and bears a pair of massive, hemispherical eyes and a nasal bridge lined with plaited strips, an aquiline beak, and a set of perky, attentive ears. Poporo containers were meant to store lime powder for use in the ingestion of coca leaves. From the earliest times, people in South America had a tradition of using coca leaves for ritual purposes. They were ingested by placing some of the leaves in the mouth and adding a small quantity of powdered lime, ground from seashells. Many poporos had elaborate zoomorphic forms, like this one. Size: 0.9" W x 1.625" H (2.3 cm x 4.1 cm); quality of tumbaga: 39% copper, 37% gold, 22.45% silver; total weight: 11.3 grams

Provenance: private Ventura, California, USA collection, acquired through descent; ex-private Ventura, California, USA collection, acquired at auction and from private collections from 1965 to 1970

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.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#164154

  • Condition: Owl head serves as the vessel's lid and is removable. Head is attached to body via modern stringing. Light abrasions to body and head, with a few stable hairline fissures around legs, and a couple of granular additions to tail feather spirals missing, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina and preservation to form throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

June 10, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$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