Brazil | Marajo Ceramic container in the form of a Mythical Cayman |

Chile, Arica Lug Handled Pitcher with geometric designs in black, white and red

San Miguel style white and black on red slip ground. The geometric design consists of four white circles inside a red ground, and underneath are a undulating bands of lines and triangles. Below this are black and white concentric cirles, and black and white bands inside and around the spout. The colors and designs are similar to a vessel illustrated in Cultures De Chile Prehistoria, Chile (1997: 196-a and d), and Excavations in Northern Chile by Junius Bird (1943: 199-jand f ).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 6 1/2" x width 8"

$1,500

M3011

Bolivia, Bolivian Ceramic Vessel Decorated with Geometric Designs

Large ceramic jug handle vessel with geometric designs of concentric diamonds in red, brown, and black slip on a pink buff ground. Vessels with similar designs are also found in Arica, Chile and Southern Bolivia, and appear to be a regional integration style.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 11"

$2,800

94207x

Peru, Cajamarca Low Orangeware Bowls with Coiled Serpent

This bowl has an orange and white spotted coiled serpent motif and a footed base. The Cajamarca culture has a long role in Peruvian pre-history going back to Chavin times until 1532 when the Inca king Atahualpa was killed by Pizarro. Today there still exists a beautiful cut stone "Inca Bath" of warm mineral water that was enjoyed by Inca nobility. A similar style of ancient plate from Cajamarca is in the Museum at Cajamarca. The orange and white slip decoration demonstrates the high artistic control that the Cajamarca artisans had over the medium. A great deal of control over the firing process was required to prevent the orange slip from turning brown

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Diameter: 10 inches.

$2,500

97111a

Colombia, Calima Ceramic Double Spout Vessel in Shape of a Circular House

Simply designed, Calima conventional style, slip painted, red and white ceramic "alcarraza" with a double spout bridge handle, in the form of a round house with a peaked roof. The creamy base retains traces of black resist geometric motifs in a lattice or net-like composition, considered to be a trademark of the Calima style (see Labbe, A."Columbian Gold and Ceramics in Antiquity", pp144-148) .

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 6"

$4,500

MM032

Colombia, Calima Effigy Vessel in the Form of a House

A house model resting on four globular feet. Vessels from the Calima region of Colombia, also known as alcarazzas, have a very distinct shape, typically with two spouts on the diagonal. For more examples, see "Colombia Before Columbus" by Armand Labbe (1986: 64-95) and "Calima" by de Schrimpff, Bray et. al. (1992: 113-118), which is where the reference drawing shown here has been taken from. A number of alcarazzas represent houses and probably mimic the actual dwellings of ancient societies in Calima.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 8"

$3,500

99318

Colombia, Calima Redware Alcarazza with 4 globular sections

The Alcarazza is a style of ceramic vessel made by the Calima culture during the early Llama phase. Often they are geometric forms and occasionally can be animal effigies. They tend to be very elegant styled vessels. Similar vessels are illustrated in "Colombia Before Columbus" by Armand Labee, Bowere Musuem, Ca.. These vessels were ceremonial Chica storing vessels. The double spout allows the liquid to pass evenly out one spout while the air enters the other.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 7 1/2"

$3,800

MM150

Mexico, Casas Grande Gadrooned Ceramic Vessel with Geometric Designs

This unusual ceramic bowl has nine fluted sections separated by symbolic cacti imagery. The bowl is painted with red and black geometric designs on a beige ground. On the bottom are three large concentric black lines. It has a tapered neck that is decorated with nine beige circles on a black ground. Each circle has a central black dot, which symbolizes an aerial view of a cactus. This vessel originates from Casas Grande, a site located in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, along the Casas Grande River and South of the US Puebloan ruins. A good reference is “Casas Grandes and the Ceramic Art of the Ancient Southwest” by Richard Townsend, published by the Art Institute of Chicago. The bowl is in good condition with one crack on the bottom restored and a small hole on one of the fluted sections. All parts original.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: H. 6" x W. 8"

$2,900

n2046

Peru, Chavin Stirrup Spout Vessel in the Form of a House

An unusual architectural motif of a round house which could have been a temple or ceremonial center. Round stone burial towers are found in the early Tiwanaku culture. This may have been what they were seeing and influenced their designs in Boliva.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: H. 9 in.

$7,500

92082

Peru, Chavin Stirrup Spout Vessel in the form of the Pijuayo Fruit

This Chavin Stirrup Spout Vessel has been shaped to mimic a ripe branch of Pijuayo (Peach Palm) fruits. Each individual fruit is red and semi-circular. It was mainly eaten after boiling in salt water for two hours, and has the taste and texture of a chestnut. Ancient Peruvians placed high value on the fruits and vegetables that surrounded them. To express this admiration of the transcendence that the plants in their daily life had, they often made works of art in tribute to them and the gods that made them. Similar fruit inspired vessels to this one are found in "Plantas Alimenticias en el Antiguo Peru" from pages 145 - 160; 1985. The peach palm was especially revered for its hard wood, which was used to carve spears. (The Ethnobotany of Pre-Columbian Peru pg. 28,1961).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length: 10" Height: 9"

•SOLD

n2096

Peru, Chavin Tembladera Style Stirrup Spout Brownware Vessel in the form of an Abstract Animal

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 9 1/4"

$8,500

n2056

Peru, Chavin Tembladera Style Stirrup Spout Vessel Decorated with Sea Lion Deity

The animal appears to a splayed sea lion with flippers. The animal deity at the top is in a protective posture, as if birthing or protecting its young. All four sides are decorated with a wave-like element in high relief

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 9 1/4"

$9,000

n2055

Ecuador, Chorrera Avian Effigy Spouted Vessel of a pelican

This effigy vessel represents a pelican decorated with red-brown slip on the head and neck over a buff body. The wings are softly modeled at the sides of the body, while the tail and quasi human feet support the vessel in a vertical position. Anthropomorphic effigy bottles with tall spouts are one of the hallmarks of Chorrera art, and may have been for high-status beverages for chiefs and shamans, probably alcoholic brews laced with hallucinogenic ingredients. They were also placed in tombs as offerings for the dead. The characteristic tall spout was almost certainly for the manipulation of liquid, and its slender height would have prevented spillage. A nearly identical vessel is published in Klein and Cevallos, eds., "Ecuador: The Secret Art of Precolumbian Ecuador" (2007: pl. 46). This pelican is slightly taller at 13 3/4" inches, and his head is turned 90 degrees, but the artist painted the head and feet in the same red-brown over a buff body with modeled wings.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 12 1/2"

$14,000

94295

Ecuador, Chorrera Ceramic Baboon

Red brown bridge spout vessel of a baboon effigy with hands on chest and wearing a pendant. A similar example is illustrated in Valdez and Veintimilla, "Ameridian Signs: 5000 Years of Precolumbian Art in Ecuador" (1992: 54. The Chorrera culture, along with the Moche of Peru, were the only Andean societies to produce realistic ceramics at a very high level.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 8.1/4"

$15,000

94008

Ecuador, Classic Chorrera Miniature Bowl

This vessel is decorated with a circular ring of heads. This style of vessel is known as a meeting themed vessel. One head faces forward and the others appear to be in trance.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 2.5" x Diameter: 4.5"

$1,500

m6106

Chile, Diaguita Phase II Shallow Bowl with Animal Face and Step Frets

This second phase Diaguita bowl exhibits a ornithomorph with a protruding mouth and a small protrubance in the rear. The high outer walls are decorated with a band of repeating step fret symbols. A similar bowl is illustrated in "Chile Indigena, Museo Arqueologico De Santiago,Chile," pl. 76.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Diameter 7" x Height 3 1/2"

$4,250

M3143

Colombia, Early Calima Alcarazza with male and female figures

A couple are seated back to back on an early form of this "alcarazza" vessel type, which was characteristic of Calima ceramics from Colombia. The globular body, modeled figures and incised decoration were typical of the earliest "Llama" phase of Calima pottery. Later examples of alcarazzas are less globular, with multi-chambered bodies, and vessels tend to be smaller. See Cardale de Schrimpff et. al., "Calima: Diez mil anos de historia en el suroccidente de Colombia" (1992) and Armand Labb�, "Colombia Before Columbus: The People, Culture, and Ceramic Art of Prehispanic Colombia" (1986).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 8 1/4"

$4,500

M4053

Ecuador, Ecuadorian Ceramic Seated Figure Holding a Bowl

This beautifully serene, meditative figure, perhaps a shaman, is seated in a restive position and offering a bowl. This bowl was perhaps used to inhale tobacco smoke or for drinking a ritual alcoholic or psychedelic libation. The historical record of the ancient Andes indicates shamanic use of mind-altering substances for religious rituals. A similar example is illustrated in
Meggers Evan’s Archeological Investigations on The Rio Napo.

Media: Ceramic

$2,000

88203

Ecuador, Guangala Bird Transformation Figure with detachable wings

This figure represents a shaman in a trance and envisioning himself turned into a bird that could fly to the otherworld to communicate with ancestors and spirits. He is wearing a feather poncho, detachable wings, and the back of the figure has a bird's rounded body and tail. The base elevates the figure off the ground as if he were actually flying. On the front of the figure there are traces of post-fire blue and yellow pigments.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 5" x Width: 10" with wings

$4,500

M7090

Ecuador, Guangala Pair of Female Figures, one lying down and one seated with hand to breast

The prone position of the larger female may have been borrowed from the neighboring Jamacoaque, but the facial incisions are typical of Guangala figures. The smaller seated female is similarly marked with carved facial designs. Guangala ceramics are unique in the northern coast for incising such markings on pottery figurines.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 7 3/4" lying down, 3 3/4" seated

$12,000

M7089

Mexico, Jaina Ceramic Efiigy Whistle of a Seated Woman

This cast ceramic whistle depicts a lady with a tattooed face, holding her hand to her breast. Post-fire blue pigment outlines the edge of her huipil, which was knotted on the upper right side of her chest.
Mold-cast figurines are thought to be later than solid hand modeled examples. Jaina Island, off the coast of Yucatan, was used as a cemetery for high-ranking nobles from the mainland.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 7"

Condition: With a minor chip on the right foot.

•SOLD

88167

Ecuador, Jama-coaque Temple Scene with priest playing a flute

The priest is in full regalia with a spectacular headdress. He is playing a flute and shaking a rattle as if dancing in front of the temple behind him. This structure is an elaborate three tier temple with a high altar and delicate details. Traces of the original post-fire pigments are intact over the entire work in hues of blue, red and yellow. The only other temple from this early period is in the Banco Central (Quito, Ecuador). The authencity of the work has been confirmed through a series of X-ray scans by Dr. Marc Ghysels (Tomodensitometric Analysis 2007).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length 10.5" x Height 9"

$29,500

M6012

Peru, Late Nazca Ceramic Vessel in the form of a Howling Man

A very delicately modeled and painted miniature vessel of a howling man. The face can be read upside-down as well. Seen from right-side up, the figure appears to be wearing a tunic and cape decorated with abstract heads. From upside-down the tunic turns into a scarf, and the cape becomes the tunic. The face also changes according to the direction the object is seen from. The howling image is associated with decapitation and the trophy head ritual.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 4 1/4"

$3,750

92037

Panama, Macaracas Stye Ceramic Dish Decorated with Stylized Pair of Saurians

The Saurian figures appear in profile in opposite directions and are separated by a narrow band. Violet and red pigments are used to skillfully define the shapes of the creatures. The Saurian figures appear on the front, back, and sides of the dish. Similar saurian designs are illustrated in GUARDIANS OF THE LIFE STREAM by Armand Labbe, fig. 41. Ex- Los Angles collection.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Diameter: 7 1/2"

$1,650

P1056

Brazil, Marajo Ceramic container in the form of a Mythical Cayman

These containers are highly valued because of the quality of artistry. They have a hole to tie a string through, either for suspension or to attach a cover. This vessel has a stylized Cayman's snout and finely incised designs depicting stylized birds’ heads on the chamber. Similar vessels illustrating a Cayman's head can be found in UNKNOWN AMAZON, on page 150 and in the catalog O MUSEU PARAENSE EMILIO GOELDI, on page 134.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length 4.4" x Height 3.1"

$3,800

N1056

Brazil, Marajo Janus-Figure Burial Urn

The figure is wearing ear ornaments and has symmetrical serpents encircling the eyes, terminating on the body. Below is a pentangular Venus element. A similar vessel is illustrated in MARAJO-Ancient Ceramics from the Mouth of the Amazon, 2011, Denver, fig 75.
Ex-Collection Jean Lions Riode Janerio, Brazil circa 1970's.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 12 1/4"

$7,750

p1061

Brazil, Marajo large ceramic bichrome vessel with incised neck

This large ceremonial urn/vase is globular in form and tapers at the base. The neck is long and incised with a scroll pattern and fluted rim. The incised scroll design on the neck is a common motif in Marajoara art. Zoomorphic in character, theses scroll designs appear on the bodies of both humans and animals and on representations of clothing and furniture such as stools. Because of their similarity to painted patterns that have ritual significance in the art of remaining descendants of the culture, some interpretation of their symbolic significance can be reached. Sometimes they are referred to as "spirit" designs according to shamans who during drug induced trances report the appearance of these markings upon the bodies of ancestral spirit people. With the possible exception of certain elite groups, the Marajoara peoples tended not to decorate their common household objects. However, they took great care to elaborate objects of ceremonial function such as funerary urns used as receptacles for the remains of the deceased. Although the actual function of this vessel is not known with certainty, it is too sophisticated in both form and decoration to have been merely utilitarian, but too small to be used as a burial urn. It is reasonable to assume, however, that it was used in a feasting ceremony. This jar has a smudge stain from the firing process on one side. Several examples of similar style and iconography are illustrated and discussed by Anna C. Roosevelt in "Moundbuilders of the Amazon: Geophysical Archaeology on Marajo Island, Brazil", San Diego, Academic Press, Inc, 1991.

Media: Mixed Media

Dimensions: Height: 16"

$17,500

MM069

Brazil, Marajo Plate with incised geometric design and zoomorphic handles

Ceramic dish used for ceremonial offerings is decorated in buff color slip over incised geometric curvilinear designs on the interior and underside of the rim which is embellished by two zoomorphic adorno handles. The overall shape suggests a possible interpretation of a turtle, an animal motif that appears frequently in Marajo ceramics. The fineline incised geometric pattern that decorates the interior begins with a central theme of a square within the square which is surrounded by S-shaped scrolls, hooks and cruciform designs. These types of geometric motifs which occur exclusively on ceremonial vessels designate this as a very special dish. A combination of fine and wide incised geometric lines decorate the outer portion of the rim. The underside is plain orange-wear. The painted incised interior, a hold-over from earlier phases is consistent with the design work from early Taino ceramics of the Carribean. One example illustrating similar geometric design and incising technique can be seen in"O Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi", Banco Safra, 1986, p. 133

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length: 13" x Width: 10 1/4"

$9,500

99203

Guatemala, Mayan High Walled Dish with Repeating Monkey Motif

This dish features a repeating scene of monkey serving a dish featuring a cacao pod with seeds, followed by a glyph with the sound of O. It is likely that the monkey is serving a chocolate dish; chocolate was revered by the Mayans as a life-giving substance. The bottom is attractively painted with a typical Mayan brush design.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 2.5" x Diameter: 7.25"

$6,000

n5050

Guatemala, Mayan Tepeu 1 Style Mayan Painted Cylinder With Complex Palace Theme

This Tepeu 1 Style cylindrical vessel features complex iconography and a hieroglyphic inscription under the rim. There are two young, idealized male lords who likely represent Maize gods, as well as isolated floating motifs which are common in Mayan art. Deity heads with long snouts appear in front of the lords, possibly representing headdresses or possibly representing actual deities. The sets of three lines at the bottoms may represent stands or tripods for the masks. This vessel was reported on by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth and exhibited at the MIHO Museum in Osaka in July of 2011. See Hellmuth's Late Classic (Tepeu 2) Vases: Throne Scenes essay for reference. Vases with Hieroglyphic Inscriptions Formerly in the collection of Hiroshi Miura, Tokyo, Japan, prior to 1969.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 7 1/2" x Diameter: 5 1/4" inches

$12,500

N5026

Guatemala, Mayan Tepeu 2 Polychrome Dish with "Fat Cacique" and Victim

This painted ceramic features 5 figures. In one scene, a staffbearer oversees another figure with a jaguar kilt who is making a gesture of resignation. The second scene depicts three figures, including a surrendering victim presenting himself to his captor, who is joined by a member of his entourage. The captor is a recognizable in the Mayan lexicon idenfied by scholars Jason Kerr and Nicolas Hellmuth as "The Fat Cacique." Bishop Diego de Landa, c. 1524 - 1579, also described this trope of captors and prisoners in Mayan art, referring to the victim's posture as a “sign of resignation or humility before a conqueror or superior person.” This vessel also depicts a scribe wearing a black mask, who appears to be painting the glyphs and narrating the story. The glyphs on both sides of the vessel likely provide the names of the characters in the story. This vessel was acquired from Gallery Hana in Tokyo, Japan, prior to 1970. This vase is illustrated in Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth's book, Mayan Vases, in chapter Chapter 10: Tepeu 2 Vases- Throne Scenes.
Guatamala, Mayan, Petan, Late Classic, c. AD 700 - 800 AD

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 4"

$8,500

n5025

Honduras, Mayan Ulua Valley Ceramic Vessel with Protruding Monkey Head Handles

This is an excellent example of a painted Mayan ceramic vessel from Honduras, Late Phase. It is decorated with two bold monkeys with large tails. There is a band of glyphs around the top edge of the vessel, and glyphs separating the monkeys below. The monkeys' heads are cleverly sculpted in three dimensions to form the handles. The bottom of the vase is painted to resemble a classic Ulua Valley marble vase. This the finest known example of a Mayan vase depicting a monkey from the Mayan region of Honduras. A similar vase is illustrated in the Mayavase.com website, reference number 5668. Formerly in the Eisenberg estate in CT, prior 1980.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 5 3/4" (14.6cm) x Diameter: 4 7/8 (12.5cm)

•SOLD

P3050

Peru, Moche 4 Stirrup Spout Vessel painted with a Strombus Monster

The vessel is finely drawn with reddish brown slip on a cream ground and depicts a Strombus galeatus monster coming out of its shell on both sides. The monster has a long curving tail and an exposed a front leg. Christopher Donnan describes this monster in MOCHE ART OF PERU, pg. 64. From the estate of Philip L. Herman prior to 1970.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 12 1/4"

$6,500

n6048

Peru, Moche Grayware Rattle Cup with the Decapitator

A well modeled portrait of Ai Apaec wearing his characteristic puma ring headdress with its tail incised on the back of the vessel. The perforated base of the cup contains clay beads which make the vessel rattle with movement. Ai Apaec was an old wrinkled god associated with war and sacrifice, hence his other titles as the Decapitator and Wrinkle Face.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 5 1/4" x Width: 4 1/2"

$5,200

M3147

Peru, Moche I - II Effigy Vessel of the Decapitator Ai Apaec

This is an early version of the Decapitator deity known as Ai Apaec. The deity always wears a feline headdress, but early versions also show him with a turban. This headdress not only has a puma skin but also a Plume of feathers represented by the conical form ontop of his head. He also wears a lovely Pectoral with individual plaques sewn onto a leather backing. The Decapitator is one of the earliest supernaturals in the Moche ceramic sequence, and he frequently carries a tumi knife and a decapitated head. The Decapitator continued into later cultures, notably the Wari and the Chimu. Formerly in a European collection since the 1970s.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 7 1/2"

$29,000

M7073

Peru, Moche I Blackware Architectural Model Depicting An Adobe Temple Site

This model is like one now in the National Museum of Archaeology in Lima, Peru (#c-54613). It was originally drawn as it might have been seen in ancient times by artist Alejandro Gonzales in 1936. This drawing is published in ARCHITECTURAL VESSELS OF THE Moche, by Juliet Wiersema, p.3, University of Austin Press. According to Dr. Christopher Donnan, a Moche scholar, the Moche often produced nearly identical ceramics with the same theme. From the estate of Philip L. Herman and collected in the 1950's -1960's.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Width: 6" x Length 4 1/2" x Height: 8"

$12,000

n6047

Peru, Moche I Ceramic stirrup-spout effigy of a seated toad in buff with red throat

This stirrup spout vessel depicting a life-like frog/toad attests to the Moche artist's fond awareness of the natural world. Such careful attention and adeptness at naturalistic portrayals of animal images is common of Early Moche ceramics. Frogs have bulbous eyes, strong, long webbed feet, and slimy skin, while toads have stubby bodies, warty, dry skin, different chest cartliage and paratoid glands behind the eyes. Their large eyes are defined with a ridge. Also, toads do not have teeth, while frogs have upper teeth. This rotund fellow with his alert wide-eyed gaze and attentive posture seems all too ready to ambush an unsuspecting fly. It is slip painted in cream and the head tilts upward, exposing a rosy orange gullet beneath the determined, down-turned mouth. Images of frogs and toads (anurans) are commonly interpreted in the art of many Pre-Columbian cultures. Because of their musical croaking performances after heavy rains, frogs and toads are associated with water, vegetation , fertility, and in some cases (usually toads), toxicity. The cyclic quality of their development --the change from the fish-like tadpole to adult frog, allude to a natural affiliation with mythical concepts of transformation. Similar examples are illustrated in "Pre-Columbian Art of South America", by Alan Lapiner, fig. 281, p129, and in "Moche Art of Peru", by Christopher B. Donnan, fig. 81, p.57. as well as in Ceramics of Ancient Peru by Donnan, 1992, UCLA, p. 128.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 7" x Width: 5"

$5,400

98439

Peru, Moche III Ceramic Vessel in the Form of a Gabled House

This house or religious center is detailed with a gabled roof and stucco decoration with painted spears. A priest is portrayed in the doorway in full regalia. Ex Collection Of Sue Tishman, prior to 1970.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 9"

$7,000

M7019

Peru, Moche IV fine line ceramic stirrup spout vessel of Serpents

A large stirrup spout vessel painted with four undulating serpents facing upwards, one in each quadrant in red/brown on a beige ground. The serpent represents rebirth, the shedding of its skin repeating as much as four times, perhaps for each season. Stirrup spout vessels were used to hold ceremonial corn beer and the spout allowed the air to enter one channel while the liquid was able to pour through the other channel.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 11 1/2"

$4,500

90078

Ecuador, Monteno incised ceramic container in the form of a foot with suspension hole

This is typical of a lime container from the Monteno region and decorated with 4 bands of geometric designs. A similar votive foot vessel is illustrated in Amerindian Signs item 141

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 2 3/4"

$950

N1049

Ecuador, Monteno incised ceramic container in the form of a head with tattoos all over

This is typical of a lime container from the Monteno region and decorated with 4 bands of geometric designs. A similar votive foot vessel is illustrated in Amerindian Signs item 141

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 2 3/4"

$1,100

N1050

Peru, Nasca Miniature Female Seated Figurine

This seated ceramic female has hands painted on her belly, black hair painted falling over the shoulders, white hair ornaments, and tattoos painted on each buttock. The intricate tattoos depict the San Pedro cactus, which is known to have psychoactive properties. The archaeological record indicates that San Pedro cactus was likely used by the ancient Andeans as a libation during shamanic ceremonies. This figurine would originally have been dressed in a miniature woven garment, which was eroded or lost over time. A similar figure is illustrated in A Sourcebook of Nasca Ceramic Iconography, p. 146. Ex. collection Jean Lions, France.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length: 7.1cm

$2,500

M4049

Peru, Nazca Ceramic Bowl with puma head wearing a mouth mask

This large and colorful bowl is decorated with a feline type face wearing a fanged mouth mask with flaring whiskers. The nose, ears and chin are subtly raised. The forehead is decorated with a succession of chevron stripes and the back of the vessel is decorated with two series of semi-circular motifs floating on a band of warm dark brown. The shape of the vessel is globular and the color scheme is maroon, sienna, cream, tan and black. Trophy heads are represented with the most frequency on these vessels. With the exception of foxes, animal portrait masks are seldom represented on this type of vessel. Ceramic vessels with similar masked iconography are featured in "Nasca Geheimnisvolle Zeichen im Alten Peru," Museum Reitberg Zurich, 1999 (exhibition catalog).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 6 1/2" x Diameter 6 1/2"

$4,680

97130

Peru, Nazca Polychrome Effigy Jar with Flute Player

This is one of the few effigy figures in the Nazca ceramic sequence that portrays a musician. The figure is holding a five chambered panpipe in his right hand and has his left hand to his cheek. He is elaborately dressed in patchwork tunic, with a black and white checkered undergarment. Around his neck is a series of plaques in alternating colors of beige, brown and gray. On top of his head is a polka dot band in grey. Below he is wearing a red/brown loin cloth covering prominent genitals. The musician has facial decoration, including black condor profile heads around the eyes and red triangles in front of his ears. This figure is illustrated by Lavalle "Nazca" (1986: 132).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 9 1/2"

$14,000

M3015

Peru, Paracas Bridge Spout Vessel Painted with Double-headed Undulating Eel

This vessel was painted with two neighboring hues of neutral yellow resinous paint, one for the ground and the other for the double-headed serpent. The rare color palette of this vessel departs from that of most Paracas vessels, which generally employ starkly contrasting colors. The animal depicted in the painting is probably an Amphisbaena, a species of worm-like snakes whose tails resemble heads as an evolutionary adaptation to fool predators. Acquired from a Miami collector in 2006.

Period: Peru, Paracas, Ocucaje Phase 9, Ica valley, South Coast, c. 300 - 200 BC

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Diameter: 6 1/4" x Height: 5"

$8,750

M6088

Peru, Paracas Falcon Effigy Vessel

This Paracas vessel has a blind-spout in the form of a falcon with pointed ears. The compressed, ovoid-shaped body was decorated with resin, painted, and incised, directly below the bridge spout handle. The chamber was enhanced with a series of squarish "U" shapes, accented with a central red stripe flanked by blocks of dark olive green and yellow ochre. These geometric configurations could be interpreted as highly abstracted bird forms and their presence is consistent within the development of the Phase 8 ceramic style. The use of resin painted designs outlined by incisions, referred to as "zoned" design, can also be assigned to Phase 8. Excellent literature and illustrations of the various phases of Paracas style ceramics are provided in Menzel, Rowe and Dawson's "The Paracas Pottery of Ica: A Study in Style and Time," 1969. Acquired by David Bernstein in 1994.

Period: Peru, Callango style, Paracas, South Coast, c. 700 - 500 BC

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 4 5/8"

$2,800

94131

Peru, Paracas Polychrome Bowl with Incised Mask Design

This Paracas bowl was decorated with an abstracted geometric mask painted in rich post-fire pigments of red, ochre, olive green, and buff. The bowl also features geometric checkerboard patterns to the left and right of the face. There is a slight lip on the upper rim for pouring or drinking ritual libations. Abstract geometric vessels such as this were highly sought after by European and American painters during the heyday of the Modernist movement in the early and Mid-20th Century. A similar example is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and is illustrated in Alan Sawyer's, "Ancient Peruvian Ceramics," 1966, on page 74. This vessel has excellent provenance. It was acquired prior to 1970 and was loaned by the Landmann family of Westchester, NY, to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where it was on view from 1984 to 1994.

Period: Peru, Paracas, Late Phase, South Coast, c. 300 - 200 BC

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 3.14" Diameter 5.3/4"

$16,500

94081

Peru, Paracas, Juan Pablo Style Falcon Bridge-spout Vessel

The blind spout at one end of the bridge handle of this vessel is modeled with a falcon's head, a typical feature of the Early Paracas style found at the Juan Pablo site. The surface on the upper body of the vessel has been delicately incised and painted to show the outstretched wings and tail feathers of the falcon. The falcon's body is decorated with circular pelt markings in a precise arrangement, with clearly delineated talons. The lower portion of the body has been left undecorated, as it would have been buried in the desert sand. The overall color scheme consists of red, orange, ochre, black, and cream pigments. This is a beautifully preserved example of Phase 3 of the Early Paracas period, in contrast to most Juan Pablo vessels which have been heavily restored. Similar examples of this style are illustrated and discussed in Alan R. Sawyer's "Ancient Peruvian Ceramics: The Nathan Cummings Collection," published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in 1966. Ex Collection of Jerome Pustilnik, acquired from Alan Lapiner prior to 1970.

Period: Peru, Paracas, Ocucaje, South Coast, c. 300 - 200 BC

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: H. 5 3/4 x L. 5 1/2 in.

$8,500

91002

Ecuador, Pompano Fish Bowl

This is an early example of Chorrera ceramics, depicting a Pompano. Pompano are found in warm waters along the Pacific and Atlantic; they appear in larger numbers during El Niño currents. Illustrated in OCEAN FISHING IN PRECOLUMBIAN CHILE AND PERU.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length: 9 3/4" inches

Condition: All parts original.

$3,250

M7154

Peru, Proto Nasca Janus Head Effigy of a Smoker

This rare Nasca Janus-headed shaman has two faces, one on either side; both faces depict the same individual who morphs in behavior as the vessel is rotated, telling a narrative story. At the starting side of the narrative, the shaman is smoking a psychoactive plant, possibly tobacco combined with another entheogen. When the vessel is rotated, the same shaman has his face painted and is starring as if he is in a trance. In addition, he is seen wearing an elaborate ritual garb that includes a headdress, a face mask with a step-fret design, and a band of three waved lines across his chest. These garments were not every day utilitarian clothing, and instead indicate a ritual shamanic costume reserved for important ceremonies. The archaeological record indicates that many ancient Andean cultures may have smoked or drank preparations that contained mixtures of tobacco combined with other psychoactive substances. There are very few representations of people smoking in Andean art, but the Spanish chroniclers describe the prevalence of smoking tobacco among the Inca. The early date of this ceramic suggests the use of tobacco in Pre-Columbia as early as AD 100. Acquired in 2004 in Paris. Formerly in the collection of Jean Lions.

Period: Nasca, Proto Phase, South Coast, c. 100 BC - AD 200

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 10 1/4"

$28,000

M4047

Colombia, Quimbaya Seated Male Warrior with Gold Nose Ornament

This male figure sculpted in solid red clay is in a sitting position with outstretched hands. He is wearing his original ancient gold crescent nose ring. His arms and legs are decorated with incised geometric banded depressions, representing ligature bands intended to constrict the flow of blood. It was believed that this strengthened the adjacent muscles. Similar examples are illustrated in "Columbia Before Columbus," by Armand J. Labbe, Rizzoli, NY 1986, p. 75.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 8 in. x Width 7 in.

$4,800

94272B

Peru, Recuay Bridge Spout Effigy Vessel

This unusual figurative effigy depicts a clenched human arm decorated with a tattoo of a face with ear spools and a large-eye condor siting under the bridge spout.  The painted face is referred to as the "circular head motif" and signifies a celestial deity (Grieder, Terrence, The Art and Archaeology of Pashash, 1978).  The condor is the largest and most powerful bird in the Andes. The clenched fist motif depicts a severed bone, the meaning of which is not clear, however, condors were known to eat the remains of sacrificed captives.  A similar example is in the Berlin Volkeunde museum and is illustrated in KULTUREN RECUAY IV by Deiter Eisleb, pg.194.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 4 1/8"

$3,500

96148

Peru, Recuay Ceramic House Scene

Creamware with geometric painted designs in red, orange and brown polychrome. This is an elaborate house model with six figures modeled inside. This is one of the few houses with two windows and a door, as most of the known examples have only one opening. The house is also a good example of negative resist decoration, which was characteristic of Recuay ceramics. Similar examples are illustrated in Lapiner, "Pre-Columbian Art of South America" (1976: pls. 422 and 433).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length: 5 in x Width: 5 in. x Height: 5 in.

$8,000

M2032

Costa Rica, Rosales Ceramic Pedestal Engraved with Glyph Designs

This pedestal is decorated with incised glyphs outlined in black on red ground in three registers. The Rosales artists' ceramics were highly prized and were traded throughout the Nacoya peninsula.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Diameter 7 1/4" Height 6 1/2"

$4,450

94114

Peru, Small Nasca Bowl with Painted Trophy Heads

The trophy heads are in profile and alternating in red, grey and beige on a cream ground. Trophy head paintings by the same artist are in the Volkunde Museum in Berlin and are illustrated in ALTPERUANINISCHE KULTUREN –NAZCA II, in figures 120 & 121. Ex. collection Hans Monheim, Achen Germany.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 3 3/4" x Diameter 3 3/8cm

$2,400

M4035

Peru, Stirrup Spout Vessel Depicting a Scallop

This elegant vessel is modeled after the Argopectin purpuratus (the Peruvian calico scallop). It is decorated with swirling painted stripes in brown slip on a cream ground and is a typical example of Moche realism. During El Niño events, bivalves proliferate along the coast; scallops are the most abundant species. The bivalves, in turn, attract octopi, which feed almost exclusively on these mollusks. Octopi are a frequent theme in Moche art. A similar example of a stirrup spout vessel in the form of a bivalve shell is illustrated in The Spirit of Ancient Peru: Treasures from the Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera, edited by Kathleen Berrin (1997: fig. 41).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 7"

$3,400

95065

Dominican Republic, Taino ceramic rose-orange bowl with Anthropomorphic Head Adornos

This is a particularly well-crafted ceramic vessel, fired at high temperatures. The two Adorno heads at either end clearly represent a zoomorphic bat, indicated by the winged shoulders at the rim.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Width: 7 1/2"x Height: 3 3/4"

Condition: Very good. One Adorno was broken at the neck and re-attached. All parts original.

•SOLD

MM003

Dominican Republic, Taino Large Ceramic Vessel with Winged Bats

Large feasting bowl. The Taino and their predecessors held large festivals in the plazas of their communities, in which singing, dancing and ballgames could last for days. Part social and part ritual, shamans and chiefs would go into trances to communicate with spirits and ancestors during festivals. The bat is a common motif in Taino art and symbolized spirits and ancestors in the otherworld. This particular type of vessel is found in the Dominican Republic. A similar vessel with flaring winged bats from the collection of the Fundacion Garcia Arevalo is illustrated in "El murcielago y la lechuza en la cultura taina" (1988: 8).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 5" x Diameter: 11" inches

$7,500

99524

Colombia, Tairona Ceramic Tray with Bat Adornos

A redware ceramic tray embellished with two smiling bats with outstretched wings. The head and the body of the bat are decorated with incised lines, the back with a diamond-shaped motif. The outer wall of the bowl is incised with squarish scroll designs.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: L: 13", W: 10-1/2"

$8,000

94271

Bolivia, Tiawanaku Portrait Vessel Wearing a Woven Headpiece

This portrait vessel has a modeled coca leaf on the left cheek. A similar portrait vessel is illustrated in TIAWANKU, ANCESTORS OF THE INCAS, edited by Margaret Young-Sanchez (fig. 5.24). The portrait vessels from the Tiawanku culture must have been heavily influenced by the Moche People of the coast. Ex Collection Arthur Sackler prior to 1970.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 5 7/8", Diameter 4 3/4"

n2006

Peru, Vicús Donut-shaped Whistle Vessel with Monkey

This donut-shaped whistle vessel has a monkey figure one side of its bridge spout and the mouthpiece at the other end. The monkey sits on top of the vessel, with its head slightly tilted, hunched on its hind legs and placing his front legs forward and spread apart. The design motif consists of negative resist decoration. There is a whistle inside the monkey (not working) and would operate when the fluid inside the vessel moved the air out through it. A similar example can be found in Lapiner's "Pre Colombian Art of South America" pls.456 & 459. The piece has a crack on the bottom, which has been restored.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Diameter 8 1/2 x h.7 in.

$3,300

92233

Peru, Vicus Double Chambered Whistling Vessel of a Figure Playing a Panpipe

This is the most published image of a whistling vessel from the early Vicus culture, but in actuality very few exist.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Length: 11 1/2 in. x Height: 7 in.

$4,500

M2096

Peru, Virú Double Chambered Single Spout Whistling Vessel in the Form of a Temple

A strap handle orangeware vessel of a temple with lord and two attendants. The two heads could also be architectural elements or trophy heads. There are traces of negative resist decoration. Larco Hoyle describes and llustrates similar shaped vessels in his monograph "Cronologia del Norte de Peru, La Cultura Virú" (1945: 4 and 8).

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height 8" Length 7 1/2"

$4,500

92080

Peru, Viru ceramic greyware single spout vessel in the form of a Viscaya

A ceramic single spout vessel in the form of a standing Viscay, a large member of the rabbit family, noted by its long ears.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: H. 9 1/2

$7,500

92047

Peru, Wari Bridge Spout Ceramic of of A Man Holding a Rope

A well-made burnished ceramic depicting a figure wearing a tunic decorated with step-frets. The figure is holding a rope in one hand and a bag in the other. The step-frets are brown on one side of the vessel and black on the other side of the vessel.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 6 ", Width: 5 1/2"

$5,500

n3019

Peru, Wari Death-head Vessel with winged felines

This beaker with skeletal head in relief was painted with winged felines holding staffs. Both the skeletal relief and the mythical felines are characteristic of Wari pottery. A smaller similar vessel in the American Museum of Natural History in New York is published in Alan Lapiner, "Pre-Columbian Art from South America (1976: #542) and Margaret Young-Sanchez, "Tiwanaku: Ancestors of the Inca" (2004: fig. 6.6) Height 6 3/4" compared to the above of 8". The skeletal deity wears a class Wari tapestry tunic and a lovely hair-do on his black. The crouching winged pumas holding staffs are classic features of Wari Art & Iconography. This vessel was formerly in a German collection collected prior to 1970.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: Height: 8"

Price Upon Request

M7046

Peru, Wari House Vessel with Overhanging Roof on Two Pillars

An effigy bowl in the form of a temple with a decorated roof. The sloping roof supported by pillars was likely decorated with a fresco. There are some temples in Southern Peru which still have traces of fresco decoration dating from the early Wari period. The columns taper to the top and have a lentil support. Photographed by Justin Kerr for Alan Lapiner, New York, June 1968.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: H. 7 in.

$5,400

91993

Peru, Wari Single Spout Figural Bottle with Elaborate Facial Decoration

This effigy vessel is painted with an individual wearing a diadem on his headdress and as well as a triple-strand necklace, indicating that he is a shaman or other important personage. He wears a black head covering, which is depicted draped around the shoulders. Ex. collection Anton Roeckl, Munich. T/L tested in Berlin.

Media: Ceramic

Dimensions: 6 in.

$2,800

94114A