Description:

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 6th to 7th century CE. A fantastically preserved stirrup vessel with its body in the form of an owl head. The owl's face is heart-shaped, with deeply set small eyes, a pronounced beak, and ridges surrounding these two features. The rest of the vessel is smooth, with a symmetrical stirrup handle and cylindrical spout with a bulbous rim around its narrow mouth. The entire surface is covered in earthy red pigment. To the Moche, owls were symbolically important because they were believed to see through the darkness of death and act as a guardian on the journey to the afterlife. Size: 4.5" W x 6.85" H (11.4 cm x 17.4 cm)

Provenance: ex-Leonard Lyle Dees collection, Topeka, Kansas, USA, acquired between 1950 and 1970

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#148511

  • Condition: Intact, with nice deposits on surface.

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September 5, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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