Description:

Pre-Columbian, south coast Peru, Paracas culture, ca. 500 to 300 BCE. A slender drug container or snuff tube that is carved from deer bone or that of another ungulate. The tubular artifact features an exterior layer of resin that is inlaid with dozens of petite shell buttons, and a bulbous upper section enabled the user to grasp the tube without dropping it. Drug containers like this example were perhaps used to contain lime powder useful when consuming coca. Size: 5" L x 0.8" W (12.7 cm x 2 cm); 5.7" H (14.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, acquired 1950s to 1960s

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), 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.

#145390

  • Condition: Chipping to resin in some areas, with nicks and losses to some inlaid shell buttons. Nice coloration throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

January 9, 2022 9:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000