Lot 88
Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca, ca. 125 to 250 CE. A bulbous vase painted and modeled in the form of a human trophy head. Its modeled nose is a subtle thin and straight protrusion down the middle of the visage; eyelids are mostly closed with a fringe of dark brown lashes lining them; the red mouth is elongated and filled with white dots; pins hold the lips closed. There are trapezoidal shaped face paint decorations beneath the eyes, each form comprised of a red-brown and grey sections divided by a white zigzag line. Eyebrows are indicated by diagonal red and brown thin lines. The head also shows a stylized coiffure adorned with a white headband with red dots. A magnificent example! Size: 5" at widest (12.7 cm) x 4-1/2"H (11.4 cm).
Mummified trophy heads date to the pre-ceramic period in ancient Peru. Perhaps the most extensive practice of headhunting occurred along the south coast of Peru in the Nazca and Inca valleys where the early Paracas and succeeding Nazca cultures resided. Head-taking was a significant component of their warfare and religious mythology. A warrior could increase his might and status by capturing prisoners for head-taking. According to scholar Paul A. Clifford, the fact that the lips of trophy heads are pinned shut " . . . implies that head-taking might mean the acquisition of a slain enemy's power or the prevention of his soul or spirit from harming the killer. Pinning lips shut on the trophy head could inhibit the loss of the soul or power embodied within the head." (cf. Art of the Andes: Pre-Columbian Sculptured and Painted Ceramics from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation: Washington D.C., 1983, p. 251.) Provenance: Ex-private Crested Butte, CO collection, acquired in 1987. 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. #108648
- Condition: Intact with minor surface wear. One small, stable pressure hairline on forehead.
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| 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 |