34" Carved Wooden Mexican Mask of a Bearded King

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1910: item #646397

This hand carved wooden mask of a Bearded man wearing a crown is an outstanding example of Mexican Folk Art from the late 19th century through the early 20th century. It might even date to an earlier period, based on the style of carving on this wonderful old weathered piece.

It measures about 33 inches tall by 14 inches wide by 5 inches... Click for details

Pre-Columbian Carchi Footed Bowl from Ecuador

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #638744

Little is known about the Formative period in the Carchi region of Ecuador, but by later times, Carchi was culturally a single unit with the department of Narino in southern Colombia. Consequently, this low pedestal bowl has much in common with typical Narino pottery, characterized by a red-brown ground with black, negative resist, geometric decoration. This piece is especially nice with some complicated diamond and chevron motifs. ... Click for details

Large Pre-Columbian Tumaco Head of a Monkey

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #638731

The Tumaco culture of Colombia developed in conjunction with the neighboring La Tolita culture in Ecuador, and the artifacts of both cultures are oftentimes so similar that distinctions are impossible. Tumaco society revolved around an economy based on fishing, maize growth, and gold, the latter of which was readily found in the rivers in Pre-Columbian times. Much like Moche art, Tumaco artistry focused on representations of people in a realistic fashion, showing them in a wide variety of condit... Click for details

Pre-Columbian Shaman Whistle, Bahia Culture (Ecuador)

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #594997

The Bahia culture was situated just south of the better-known Jamacoaque region along the coast of Ecuador during the Regional Development period (300 BC - 700 AD). During this period the local societies became very hierarchical with an aristocratic priesthood seemingly dominating everyday life, including craft production. Shaman figures produced by the Bahia, like those of the surrounding cultures, stress ornamentation indicative of rank or social functions, such as apparel, utensils, or instru... Click for details

Small Jamacoaque Figure, Pre-Columbian Ecuador

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #588329

A tiny and choice little effigy figure! The Jamacoaque culture of northern coastal Ecuador is one of many poorly-known cultures that persevered in the northern Andes for centuries. Their wealth seems to have been largely derived from fishing, farming, and trade of coastal commodities, such as shells. Despite the fact that they left little noteworthy architecture, the pottery figures from these related cultures have grown in popularity in recent years, largely due to the vibrant coloration and st... Click for details

Pre-Columbian Jamacoaque Shaman in Avian Transformation

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #586167

Although most Jamacoaque figures depict a shaman transforming into a feline form, a minority of shaman figures show them transforming into a bird. This figure is particularly interesting because it combines both avian (wings) and lizard (face and tail) characteristics in one supernatural state. Although the detailing of the headdress and pectoral is more sparse than usual, the sculptor had a good eye for motion; the figure captures a moment when the distinction between the shaman's flowing robe ... Click for details

Affordable Nariño Olla, Pre-Columbian Colombia

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #563741

This olla comes from the Nariño region of southern Colombia. The first archaeological excavations in Nariño occurred barely 30 years ago, so little is conclusively known about this area. What does seem evident is that three distinct cultural groups occupied the region: the Piartal, Tuza, and Capuli. However, we typically see the output of these three cultures inappropriately lumped together as generic Nariño on dealers' websites. This figure was produced by the Capuli, whose archaeological compl... Click for details

Manteño / Huancavilca Hoe Money, Pre-Columbian Ecuador

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #563736

This fine set of three pieces of hoe money (so-called because of their shape) was produced by the Manteño-Huancavilca culture of coastal Ecuador. Their people were experienced seamen who navigated to Central America and Peru. Their export staples were spondylus shells, cotton weavings, objects of golden, silver and copper, and obsidian mirrors.

Ecuadorian hoe money is thought to have been the inspiration for later t... Click for details

SOLD - July 06

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #551325
SOLD - Jul

A visually striking painted and burnished pottery vessel in the form of a kneeling warrior, mounted to the back with a hollow arched stirrup handle with a single spout. The warrior is shown kneeling with one knee raised, he holds a staff or club across his chest. The figure is wearing a short-sleeved tunic tied with a belt, he also wears armbands, a large necklace, spool-shaped earrings and an ornate crown. His hair is shown falling in two long locks over the back. Warriors and priests were th... Click for details

Sold - Aug 08

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #551319
Sold - Aug

A very expressive and carefully modelled pottery figure of a naked standing male. The figure stands with his legs wide apart, wearing only a girdle or belt and a pair of large circular earrings. The head is modelled with particularly strong features, accentuated by the coffee-bean shape eyes and pronounced nose. Mexico, Tlatilco Culture, middle to late 1st Millennium BC. Right leg re-attached, tip of right arm lost, losses to the applied hair over the head. Size: 9.8 x 5.4 cms. Ex. private ... Click for details