Description:

Pre-Columbian, South America, Argentina or Chile, Mapuche culture, ca. 1200 to 1700 CE. A finely carved, dark gray stone scepter of a ceremonial form known as a clava with a lunate head depicting an abstract head of a macaw. The scepter features a stocky handle with a perforation through the tip, a discoid head with protruding circular eyes and an ovoid recess representative of the macaw's beak, and a tiered, trapezoidal protrusion atop the head. Dozens of incised striations across both sides of the abstract avian head create a dense feathered pattern that imbues the scepter with a personalized presentation. Mapuche shamans would hold scepters like this example by the handle via a string knotted through a petite handle hole that was attached to their wrist. Size: 8.5" L x 4.6" W (21.6 cm x 11.7 cm); 6.9" H (17.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Bill Freeman collection, New Mexico, USA formed between 1950 and 2000

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#157066

  • Condition: One large chip to lunate head, with softening to some incised details, and light encrustations, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout.

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August 13, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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