Jamacoaque Shaman Scene

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #374599
JM279

An exceptional Jamacoaque platform sculpture from Ecuador, ca. 350 BC - 400 AD. The finely detailed figure is ornately adorned with fancy headdress, skirt and extensive jewelry which includes large nose ornaments, wide necklace, a belly button ornament and nipple covers in the form of tiny heads. She is 4-1/2" tall and represents the guardian of a nicely decorated container which once held the snuff of an important individual. The vessel is executed in the shape of a ceremonial hut, in which ... Click for details

Jamacoaque Insect Effigy

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #374590
JM277

A superb Jamacoaque insect from Ecuador, ca. 350 BC - 400 AD. This superbly sculpted critter combines the attributes of traditional mythical monsters with the body of an ant or termite. The finely detailed face features an open mouth studded with fangs and teeth, with curved pincers at the back of the body. In Exceptional condition.

Nazca Extinct Avian Bowl

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #368293
NZ169

A superb Early Nazca bowl from Peru, ca. 100 - 400 AD, 5-5/8" diameter. This delicate beauty has paper-thin walls and is decorated with a band of eight spotted birds, painted against a red background. Based on shape and color, it is likely that these depict a rhea. While rheas are extinct in most of Peru today, they certainly did inhabit the region in ancient times. I'm not sure which species it is, but many rheas have brownish-gray feathers with lighter spotting. The bottom half is painted... Click for details

Inca Polychrome Vessel

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre 1492: item #366737
IN47

An exceptional Inca figural jug from Peru, ca. 1350 - 1450 AD. This fine vessel is 7-1/2" high, with the flared spout formed as the head, which is highlighted with kaolin and adorned with a ritual tattoo. The body has a yellow slip and is decorated with a finely detailed band, most likely representing clothing, as it is executed in a textile pattern. Even the strap handle has nice decorative designs. In excellent condition.

Moche Mace Head

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #365830
MO332

An exceptional Moche copper mace head, 3-1/4" diameter. This excellent 7 point star-shaped example has a concave interior with nice oxidized deposits and shows good remnants of gold, which at one time must have covered the entire piece. In excellent condition.

Jalisco Female Figure

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #362440
JA125

An exceptional Jalisco female from Mexico, 12" tall. This early (ca. 200 BC) San Sebastian type figure is posed seated on a stool, with the diminutive arms held to the abdomen and is depicted carrying a nicely decorated olla on her head. Her coif is finely incised and the extensive clothing and jewelry are painted in minute detail. Excellent paint, nice deposits, in superb condition.

Lambayeque Maize Deity

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #362124
LA74

A fine Lambayeque (Sican) double-chambered vessel from Peru, ca. 700 - 1350 AD. It is 7" high and 7" in length. The front bottle depicts the Maize God emerging from a pile of maize. He is portrayed with a red face and is wearing a solar emblem headdress, ear ornaments and necklace. The detailing on the individual ears of maize is beautifully executed. The rear bottle is connected by a lower tube and a strap handle, which has a built-in whistle with good tone. Nice paint overall, strong dep... Click for details

Chorrera Boatman

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #362119
CA21

An adorable Chorrera figure from Ecuador, ca. 1000 - 500 BC. This fine 2" tall miniature depicts an ancient boatman paddling his raft. Nicely detailed, great color, highly burnished. A superb example of anecdotal sculpture.

Nazca Mythical Scene

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #361446
NZ149

An exceptional Late Nazca bottle from Peru, ca. 700 AD. This 8-3/4" high, single spouted vessel features a pair of elaborately detailed mythical creatures, surrounded by rayed heads. The highly stylized nature is characteristic of the period and looks much like certain Picasso paintings. An interesting firing cloud has turned much of the white background into a light blue shade. Overall in excellent condition, with strong paint and only minor pitting. The black spot at the bottom of the han... Click for details

Interesting Mayan Obsidian Discoidals

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian Pre AD 1000: item #358839

These curious Mayan objects are of somewhat ambiguous use, and they could have had multiple functions. From a utilitarian perspective, each has a sharp enough edge to function as a scraper in a domestic setting, but their shape is atypical for this use. A more interesting interpretation would be to link them to discoidals used by native North Americans, like the Mississippian culture (ca. 900-1540 A.D.). The Mississippians used disc-shaped stones in an enormously popular game that was the modern... Click for details