Lot 156
Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, Nicoya region, ca. 2nd to 6th century CE. A hand-built pottery rattle in the form of an abstract zoomorph with 4 protruding legs, a plug-form tail, and a sizable head. Covered in dark red slip, the creature bears intricately incised linear and geometric motifs across its bulbous body that create a spiked presentation evocative of saurians. The head exhibits almost anthropomorphic features such as a hemispherical nose, elongated eyes, and cupped ears, but with characteristically animalistic qualities like bared fangs and a drooping tongue. Petite rattle balls are still present within 3 of the 4 legs, the head, and the tail. Size: 10.1" L x 5.2" W x 4" H (25.7 cm x 13.2 cm x 10.2 cm)
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 is available to the buyer upon request.
Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010
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.
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we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#172979
- Condition: Repaired with chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Abrasions, softening to some incised decorations, and fading to pigment in scattered areas commensurate with age, with light earthen deposits within body and within some recessed areas. Great preservation to overall form. Remaining rattle balls still create sound when jostled. An old Sotheby's tag accompanies this artifact but does not contain information pertaining to the auction date.
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