Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, South Coast, Nazca, ca. 250 BCE to 125 CE. A polychrome globular bottle with double spouts connected by a flat bridge handle, presenting a mesmerizing iconographic program around the circumference featuring the so-called Serpentine Creature with wide open round eyes and a feline mouth and mask, wearing ornamental danglers and a head ornament, tasting a trophy head whose hair is in his grip. Set perpendicularly to his visage is a snakeskin patterned body with trophy heads at the ends. On the backside is another visage with human limbs and a colorful zigzag patterned ornament flanked by serpent like creatures. The complex iconography and format of the design makes this vessel quite intriguing. All is painted in a stunning palette of rich red, orange, cream, grey, black, and white hues. Size: 7.75" W x 9.75" H (19.7 cm x 24.8 cm)

The Nazca replaced post-firing resin painting with pre-firing slip painting making for a great deal of experimentation to learn which slips produced certain colors. Note the painstaking technique required to adorn this vessel with its intricate figural imagery in such a wide range of hues!

Provenance: ex-Dino Falliers collection, Denver, Colorado, USA

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#128998

  • Condition: Lower section repaired from three to five large pieces with possible repainting over the break lines. Normal surface wear with paint loss as shown. Old inventory label on base.

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November 21, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000