Description:

Pre-Columbian, South America, Argentina or Chile, Mapuche culture, ca. 1200 to 1700 CE. A hand-carved stone ceremonial scepter known as a clava depicting the abstract head of a macaw. The lunate finial bears a pair of protruding circular eyes behind a carved-out gap meant to represent the bird's open beak. The eyes are also incised with intersecting lines perhaps representing the four cardinal directions terminating in arrow-like motifs; the contours of the crescent head are also incised; and the surfaces are polished to achieve a pleasing smoothness. Mapuche shamans held scepters like this example by their handles while they were attached to their wrists via knotted threads strung through a drilled hole; however, a perforation through the handle is absent on this clava. A great lapidary example from the ancient Mapuche! Size: 1.875" L x 6" W x 9.875" H (4.8 cm x 15.2 cm x 25.1 cm); 9.625" H (24.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ian Arundel collection, California, USA, the Old Curiosity Cabinet, Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA, collected 1950-1970

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.

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.

#162869

  • Condition: Chips to peripheries as shown. Surface wear commensurate with age, but incised details are well preserved. Scattered deposits.

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October 21, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$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
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