Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Inca Empire, ca. 1300 to 1500 CE. An adorable pottery stirrup vessel in the form of a guinea pig resting upon his rounded belly with dainty paws curled up to his fluffy, ovoid body as his sizable head protrudes forward inquisitively. Crowned by a pair of perky ears, his sweet face presents a tapered snout with a petite nose and a pair of round, beady eyes that seem to sparkle with curiosity. The iconography of the guinea pig was significant among Andean cultures. Size: 3.1" L x 7.6" W x 6.2" H (7.9 cm x 19.3 cm x 15.7 cm)

According to scholar Eduardo Archetti, "During the Inca Empire, the guinea-pig was important both in people's diet and in the ceremonial world. Llamas and alpacas belonged to the state, whereas the guinea-pig was the 'popular' animal par excellence. There is clear evidence that guinea-pigs were consumed only on ritual occasions and were never part of the everyday peasant diet. Various chronicles emphasize that the guinea-pig was slaughtered and eaten only on festive occasions or when making offerings to the gods. At the same time, the guinea-pig was used as an instrument of divination. There is no evidence that it was used as a totem."

Provenance: private Greenwich, Connecticut, USA collection, via descent, acquired in Western Europe in the 1950s - 1960s

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#185913

  • Condition: Rounded base inhibits vessel from standing up straight independently. Missing proper right back foot. Professionally repaired with some infill, restoration, and repainting along break lines and a few break lines visible with minor chipping and adhesive. Minor nicks and abrasions to surface. Nice remaining detail.

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May 11, 2024 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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