Description:

Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Paracas, ca. 500 to 300 BCE. A fine drug container carved from bone, probably human, with an open top end and a plugged bottom cavity. The cylindrical container has a small mouth and a bulbous midsection, with roughly 80% covered in smooth leather straps sewn with several rows of petite white shells. Perhaps used to contain lime powder useful when consuming coca, this is an intriguing example from ancient Peru! Size: 1.1" W x 7.9" H (2.8 cm x 20.1 cm); 8.3" H (21.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany

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#145264

  • Condition: Small chips to mouth rim, leather wraps, and body, with losses to some shells, and surface darkening commensurate with age. Light earthen deposits throughout.

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April 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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