Description:

North Coast Peru, Moche III, ca. 300CE - 400 CE. This elegant vessel with its gracefully flared Moche III spout portrays a duck with variegated colors and textures on the crested head and wings. Moche artists relished scenes of water birds, fish, and reeds. This duck is the Moscovy duck (Cairina moschata) a large, strong, aggressive duck with a crest that was one of the few domesticated animals in the ancient Americas. Scholars believe that it could be domesticated, because it had an affinity for maize, the staple food of most Pre-Columbian peoples. Surface-feeding or river ducks are indigenous to both North and South America. This bird inhabits swamps and tule reeds, the same reeds that the Moche used to build rafts, on the North Coast of Peru. You can imagine that marshes and rivers running through the predominantly desert terrain were treasured by the Moche as an important source of food and water. The Muscovy duck usually lives in swamps along the banks of streams and rivers. The form of this particular example ignites one's imagination. Can't you envision this magnificent aviary creature gliding along the wetlands? 8"L x 9"H x 5-1/2"W

Provenance: Ex-Haig Collection, collected 1960s

All items in this auction are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statute covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

  • Condition: Very minor surface wear. Else intact and near choice!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

June 13, 2014 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% 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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000