Cute Narino / Capuli Pre-Columbian Bowl with Monkeys

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #517890

This choice footed bowl 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 archae... Click for details

Pre-Columbian Nazca Effigy Jar, Peru

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #511729

This is an exceptionally choice Nazca ceramic effigy jar depicting a hunchbacked figure carrying a bundle of peppers and pepino fruits. For similar, see Sawyer's "Ancient Peruvian Ceramics" and Chapter 2 in Starn et al's "The Peru Reader: history, culture, politics."

The Nazca civilization of Peru was one of the most advanced of its day. They developed advanced farming methods that allowed them to build an irrigatio... Click for details

Cute Pre-Columbian Nazca Cup, Peru

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #499902

The Nazca civilization of Peru was one of the most advanced of its day. They developed advanced farming methods that allowed them to build an irrigation system, improve their crops, and expand the area of land they could farm. Over the next 1,500 years, they also developed outstanding skills in weaving, pottery, and architecture. But, perhaps the most fascinating of their cultural achievements was the creation of remarkable ground art. The lines of Nazca are a variety of geometrical figures, tra... Click for details

Vibrant Pre-Columbian Jamacoaque Jaguar Mask

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #499884

The Jamacoaque culture of northern coastal Ecuador is one of many poorly-known cultures that persevered in the northern Andes for centuries. Closely associated with the Guangala and Bahia cultures, the Jamacoaque were found to the north of the modern-day Manabi province of Ecuador. 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 r... Click for details

Pre-Columbian Chimu Blackware Canteen, Peru

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #499705

The Chimu civilization was the most powerful city-state to emerge from the conflicts of the Moche, Huari, Nazca, and Tiahuanaco throughout the 12th Century A.D. Coming to prominence around 1200 A.D. in the Moche Valley, the Chimu focused on conquest and expansion in the late 13th through early 14th centuries, such that the empire encompassed 620 square miles at its height. Minchancamon was the greediest (and not coincidentally the last) leader of the Chimu. His quest for dominance resulted in th... Click for details

Choice Jamacoaque Shaman Figure, Ecuador

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #493592

This excellent Jamacoaque shaman figure from Ecuador represents a typical shaman about to undertake a drug-induced transformation, a common motif in Jamacoaque art. He is elaborately decorated with earrings, a nosering, and necklaces, and he is holding hallucinogenic paraphanalia in each hand (a snuff tube and small jar) to aid in his transformation, most likely into a ferocious jaguar. Saunders' "Icons of Power: Feline Symbolism in the Americas" notes that jaguar symbolism is explicitly assoc... Click for details

Incredible Jamacoaque Figure of a Shaman/Jaguar

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #449604

This very interesting figure shows a Jamacoaque shaman nearly completion of his transformation into a ferocious jaguar. Saunders' "Icons of Power: Feline Symbolism in the Americas" notes that jaguar symbolism is explicitly associated with shamanism. Those who claim some of the jaguar's power (such as through shamanic association) also thereby classify themselves both within and on the margins of human structures of power. Jaguar power, or the concept of power provided by jaguars, can be at the c... Click for details

Large Nazca Coca Leaf Bag (Chuspa), Pre-Columbian

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre AD 1000: item #410293

South American peoples have long cultivated coca leaves. Rich in calcium and vitamin B, they have a mild narcotic effect when chewed in their natural state and are used to help relieve high altitude fatigue, hunger, and thirst. These bags, known as chuspa, were used to collect the leaves.

The Nazca civilization of Peru was one of the most advanced of its day. They developed advanced farming methods that allowed the... Click for details

Nice Group of Paracas & Chancay Textiles, Pre-Columbian

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #372123

This attractive lot of textile fragments come from the Paracas and Chancay cultures of South America. The group includes seven strip fragments and one small cocoa bag (seen far right). Both the bag and longest strip (top) are sewn to a canvas backing for reinforcement. A good lot for the price that could be broken for resale at a profit!

The Chancay culture held sway over the central coast region of Peru between 110... Click for details

Exceptional Pre-Columbian Chancay Figure with Mask

Archives: Regional Art: Americas: South American Pre 1492: item #337326

This exceptionally large and interesting Chancay figure is of a class of figures commonly called "cuchimilco." The precise meaning of these figures are unknown, but they are most commonly female and depicted with their short arms outstretched. Interpretations vary, but these figures have been taken to represent an important local goddess or as representations of more human qualities. I prefer the latter interpretation; the larger, better Chancay figures are typically found in male/female pairs i... Click for details