Description:

Pre-Columbian, Western Bolivia, Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) culture, ca. 100 to 300 CE. A wonderful, hand-built pottery vessel in the form of a flute player balancing on his stomach with his legs bent at the knees so the soles of his feet face upwards. Presenting a thick body, the curious figure bends both attenuated arms at the elbows to hold a petite flute to his slightly open mouth. His fascinating visage features heavy-lidded, almond-shaped eyes, a pointed nose, and prominent nasolabial folds, all flanked by a pair of tab-shaped ears and capped with a flared headdress that opens to his hollow interior, serving as the rim of the vessel. He wears only a small covering over his posterior and groin, as the rest of his body is adorned with geometric designs in black pigment, likely representing ceremonial scarification. Size: 7.125" L x 3.375" W x 4.875" H (18.1 cm x 8.6 cm x 12.4 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: ex-private Drimmer collection, Florida, USA, before 1965

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 shipmost antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

#165154

  • Condition: TL holes under right leg and inside rim. Proper right foot reattached with break lines visible. Some nicks and resurfacing. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments.

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July 22, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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