Description:

South America, Bolivia, Spanish Colonial period, ca. 19th century CE. A huge, one-of-a-kind vessel made from hand-hammered sheets of silver. The bulbous lower body of the vessel is attached to the slightly conical neck and mouth with large silver rivets. The curved, vertical handles are similarly riveted to the lower body. The base is slightly concave, with no foot. What this vessel may have been used for is a mystery, but it is a testament to the immense silver wealth that the Spanish extracted from the New World. This much silver in one vessel is almost unprecedented, and it would have belonged to someone very wealthy, perhaps a colonial governor. Size: 14.75" W x 16.25" H (37.5 cm x 41.3 cm); (4.1 kg)

Provenance: private Viscarra collection

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.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#124267

  • Condition: Slight patina on interior; small areas of deformation to shape around rim.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

June 29, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$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