Lot 97J
Pre-Columbian, Northern Peru, Inca, ca. 1400 to 1532 CE. An extensively decorated polychrome vessel called an aryballos due to its similarities to Greek vessels of this shape, but also known as an urpu. The vessel has a wide and conical base, a piriform body, two applied strap handles, a protruding zoomorphic lug, a tubular neck, and twin loop lugs below the flared rim. In addition, the front of the vessel body is beautifully decorated with two lower registers of stylized geometric motifs comprised of zigzags with nested squares adorning the negative spaces. Above this is a register of avian forms with dots in the surrounding field. Then we have an applied zoomorphic head in high relief with delineated ears/eyes and mouth. Finally, red and black bands adorn the neck. Despite possessing a utilitarian function (described in the extended description below), scholars posit that more ornate Inca vessels, like this finely painted urpu, were used as votive pieces for rituals. Size: 4.75" W x 6.75" H (12.1 cm x 17.1 cm)
Urpus were used for transporting and storing liquids such as chicha (fermented corn beer) and the conical base enabled the vessel to be pushed into sand or soft earth to stand upright. When alpacas were overburdened, human porters carried the urpu vessels on their backs. The tabs below the rim secured a cloth or skin cover over the mouth to prevent spillage. The rounded lugs would also secure a strap that ran through the handles and tied the vessel to the porters back.
Provenance: ex private St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA collection before 2000
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#162444
- Condition: Neck/spout reattached with some restoration over the break lines and touch up to paint. Nicks and abrasions to protruding zoomorphic head on shoulder, petite perforated lugs below rim, peripheries of lower twin handles, and other high pointed areas. Normal surface wear with some fading to pigmentation, but decorative program is otherwise strong. Nice burnishing marks and scattered deposits grace the surface.
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