Lot 136
Pre-Columbian, Peru, Late Chavin to Early Moche Culture, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A delightful mold-made pottery stirrup vessel in the form of the head of an owl. Boasting a minimalist design, the redware vessel presents an ovoid body and rounded base with the face of an owl on 2 sides. Each avian visage is comprised of a recessed face with risen, annular eyes and a petite, projecting beak. Please note that Lucite stand is for photography purposes only. Size: 7.25" in diameter x 9.75" H (18.4 cm x 24.8 cm)
The Chavin civilization is generally regarded as the Andean mother civilization - oftentimes compared to the Olmec of Mexico. Both the Chavin and the Olmec cultures created the earliest Pre-Columbian visual culture that continued to flourish until European contact in the 16th century. Using molds and modeling the forms by hand, the Chavin made numerous stirrup-spout vessels like this example. Scholars have suggested that the indigenous used them to store fermented corn beer or "chicha."
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA, donated to Ashland University between July 1994 to December 1998
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#165951
- Condition: TL holes to base and under beak. Repaired from several pieces with restoration. Light abrasions and nicks in areas. Otherwise, excellent.
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