Lot 158
Native American, Southeast / Midwestern United States, Mississippian, Bell Plains type, ca. 970 to 1330 CE. A wonderful pottery effigy bowl in the form of a cat-serpent with a snarling feline face of almond-shaped eyes and sharp teeth rising from one side of the flared rim and the coiled tail of a snake extending from the other. The cat-serpent was a combination of a feline and a horned serpent as both served as symbols of the sacred Beneath World from which religious practitioners gained visionary insight and power. The cross motifs incised on either side of the animal's mouth mark a focal conduit through which the powers of the Beneath World can be accessed by humans. This was probably a powerful ritual object, but its precise use remains unclear. Size: 6.9" L x 9" W x 7" H (17.5 cm x 22.9 cm x 17.8 cm)
According to author Jim Maus, "The general sectarian opinion seemed to be that there was evil underwater, whether in lakes or streams or deep in watery caves and the Horned Water Serpent could keep the wickedness in check, if the people stimulated it to do so. Or it could unleash the maliciousness onto the human population if it was not accepted and treated as a supreme being. We will probably never know just when or how the tales of this leviathan were begun but the cultural shamans or priests along with the regional kings probably had much to do with propagating the myths. For eons, around the world, society leaders have conjured up stories of devils or dragons or demons so as to gain control over their uneducated subjects. And there are no reasons to believe that the ancient Americans did not do likewise."
Cf. Princeton University Art Museum, 2013-44.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report will accompany the item upon purchase.
Please note this item may fall under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and may not be eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.
Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired from Heritage Auctions, New York, New York, USA on December 3, 2010, lot 50215; ex-Len Weidner, Whitehall, Ohio, USA
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#183368
- Condition: Rounded base creates slight wobble. Professionally repaired with restoration over some break lines and other break lines visible in areas. Chipping to head of cat serpent and rim of bowl. Some nicks and abrasions as shown. Otherwise, nice presentation with good remaining detail. TL holes on underside of base and beneath chin of animal head.
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