Lot 246
**First Time At Auction**
Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca, ca. 100 BCE to 700 CE. A large bowl, its form presenting a rounded bottom and straight, vertical walls, depicting seven killer whales in russet red, orange, and plum wine hues on a cream ground, each panel divided by striations with a linear band above, both in that rich wine hue. Killer whales residing in the seas off the coast of Peru are known to be fearsome, clever, and powerful hunters. This bowl features the favored Nazca interpretation of their killer whale deity with human arms and fins, symbolizing the intimidating strength of nature that the Nazca believed had to be appeased via sacrifice. Size: 8.75" in diameter x 4" H (22.2 cm x 10.2 cm)
A wonderful bowl featuring a killer whale (accession number 2003.107) resides in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. According to their curatorial team, "The taking of enemy trophy heads was popular in many Pre-Columbian cultures, but the Nasca are especially known for their trophy-head cult. They believed that the blood of trophy heads nourished the earth and helped plants to grow. The killer whale deity was important to this cult. Although the deities were often depicted with human hands holding trophy heads, in this image the hand is empty." Similarly, the whales depicted on this bowl are not holding trophy heads, leaving that aspect to our imagination.
Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado collection; private Lawrence Buchanan and Dr. Enrique Von Kiguel collection, acquired 1970 to 1980
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#121662
- Condition: Repaired from two pieces. Expected surface wear with minor pigment losses and nicks here and there, but iconography is still quite vivid.
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