Description:

Pre-Columbian, Vera Cruz, ca. 100 to 1000 CE. This is a small figural bust that doubles as a whistle. It shows a bitumen-coated face wearing a large headdress, huge ear plugs, and some kind of draped neckwear. The whistle still works! Veracruz pottery from this period is famous for its use of bitumen, which is a form of petroleum found throughout Mesoamerica's southern Gulf Coast in natural seeps. Size: 4-1/4" H x 3-3/4" L x 2-1/2" W (10.8 cm x 9.5 cm x 6.4 cm).

Provenance: Ex-Private New York Collection

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#110969

  • Condition: There is a small repair along the mouth of the whistle, but the front (display side) of the piece is in excellent condition. The bitumen is in good condition and the details of the piece are clear.

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December 7, 2015 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000