This is an extroadinarily rare Aztec ceramic pipe. There are only 3 others of this earliest type known to exist. It was found by Dr. Allen Heflin on 12/2/60 in Cuautitlan, Mexico. The end of the stem has been broken off and appears to have been glued back on. This is not the prettiest of the 4 pipes I have listed, but it is the oldest likened unto Paleo vs. Archaic. I have what I believe to be the largest and finest collection of Aztec pipes in private hands.

This extremely rare 6 1/2" angular owl effigy pipe was found by Dr. Allen Heflin in 1958 at the Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan site in Mexico. It is type 3A. The pupil of the right eye is missing. This is truly a fabulous pipe of which only a few exist in private collections.

Three Aztec pipes were sold at Sotheby's auction on March 23rd, 2013 for $12,890. None were as near as nice as this one or even the other three I have for sale here. If you would like a link to this Sotheby's auction, please e-mail me. This unusual zoomorphic pipe depicts a duck. Original red paint covers much of the polished black-brown surface and eyes and bill are outlined by incision. Ducks were associated with rain gods...

very fine example of a valley of mexico pre classic figure. 6 1/4 incnh, strong remaining red pigment. Rare to find in this excellent condition. Provenance: Leonard Kaplan Collection, Laguna Beach, CA.

Relics of the nile is pleased to present this Mayan bowl from Guatemala, ca. 500 - 800 AD. The bowl features solid color with an excellent, detailed design of chiefs that repeats around the circumference of the piece. The bowl remains in solid condition and the body remains intact with the exception of some chipping on the rim that has been slightly repaired in one place. The bowl measures 6" in diameter and has evidence of extensive usage, good root marks and mineral deposits.

An ancient pre-Columbian ceramic vessel from the pre-Columbian Veracruz culture that shows a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the region.

Dating back to the late classic period (550-950 AD), it is a testament to the incredible skill and craftsmanship of the ancient people who created it...

Circa 1470-1532 AD pre-Columbian Inca ritual offering vessel Conopa in the shape of a Llama. Hand carved from a fine brown grained stone, then polished with sand and water, with a hole in its back called a "qocha" (lagoon) the container for offerings during the ceremony "haywarisqa" (ceremony of offerings). Llama fat and blood mixed with coca leaves were presented to the gods.
MEASUREMENTS: 3 inches (9 cm) long and 2 5/8 inches (6 cm) tall...

Circa 1470-1532 AD pre-Columbian Inca ritual offering vessel Conopa in the shape of an Alpaca. Hand carved of a black fine grained stone, then polished with sand and water, with a hole in its back called a "qocha" (lagoon)-the container for offerings during the ceremony "haywarisqa" (ceremony of offerings) in which Alpaca fat and blood mixed with coca leaves were presented to the gods.
MEASUREMENTS: 11 cm (4 inches) long and 8 cm (3 1/8 inches) tall...

A West Coast of Mexico seed pot with scalloped sides with a green-brown polished slip in fine condition from the protoclassic period [100 AD-250 AD]. 4.5" wide and 4.5" tall.

A Veracruz life size head from 600 AD-900 AD. This figure wears a cap with head ornamentation and ear spools. The pupils and mouth are blackened with bitumen. A flesh tone slip covers the head. It is mounted on a stand. In fine conditon althought there is a minor crack on the left cheek.

A stone necklace composed of numerous beads of graduated size, variously of globular, tubular or irregular form in shades of light green, white and grey. They are suspending a Mezcala stone head pendant with broad incisions used to mark the facial characteristics and drilled at the back of the head. The suspended length as pictured is 15".

A Teotihuacan stone figure made of a spinach colored green stone. A typical rigid body with squared-off shoulders, straight arms draped to the hips with incisions to denote fingers and toes, a flattened head marked by deep crescent in-cut eyes and mouth. It is drilled at the nose and through the earrings and wears a rectangular peaked cap. Measures 8" in height and on a presentation stand. Provenance: Leonard Kaplan Collection, Laguna Beach, CA.

A Veracruz stone yoke circa 250-950 AD in characteristic U-form, the thick implement with polished surface except for the outside. A flat top, the sides tapering slightly downwards. The end of each arm is relief- carved with an ornate pattern of complementary bands and scrolling plumage-like motifs. Remains of a red pigment in a speckled grey-light green stone. Minor restoration. Length 15", width 14".On a presentation stand. Provenanace: Southwest College Auction, La Mesa, CA.

Jalisco Pottery Ameca Female Figure. Mexico. Circa. 200 B.C. – 100 A.D. 7 5/8” x 6” . Need more sizes. Hollow pottery example. A medium seated Ameca style female figure, cream slip surface with traces of black painted decoration. Mineral deposits and root marks on the surface. Repaired form approximately six original pieces, left arm retached with breakline clearly visible with loss along breakline.

Tlatilco Pottery Figure Mexico Figure with Double Spouted Headdress. Circa. 200 B.C. – 100 A.D. 8" high. Hollow pottery example. This a pre-classic seated figure having a double spouted headdress. Loss to one spout and tip of left arm, otherwise intact.

A Colima pre-Classic figure in fine condition with the tip of the head and left shoulder professionally restored to an unnoticeable state. 7.5" high.

A Tlatilico "Pretty Lady" from the pre-Classic period [1200 BC-300 AD]. Stress breaks arms and legs professionally restored. Rare large size. 7.5" high.

A female Colima figure from the pre-Classic period [1200 BC-300AD]. She wears a hat, earrings, necklace and shoulder ornamentation. There are stress cracks of the arm, neck and leg which have been professionally restored. It shows strong yellow and red pigmentation. 9" high.

A very early pre-Classic [1200 Bc-300 AD] Tlatilco female figure. Although the right arm and most of the headdress are missing, it is still a fine example of a very early pre-Columbian art work. 4" tall.

A Mezcala stone figure from the pre-Classic period [1200 BC-200BC]. There are drilled holes at the base of the neck for wear as a pendant. 6.5" high.

A Mezcala stone figure from the pre-Classic period [1200 BC-300 AD] with folded arms. 5.25" high.

A nice example of an early small Mayan cylinder with several small stress cracks from the pre-Classic [1500 BC-300 AD] period. 3.5" wide and 2.75" deep.

A really nice and quite scarce vessel shaped as a human figure with two smaller figures on either side, Late Chimü or early Incan, c. 13th.-14th. cent. AD.

Size: c. 17,5 cm. x 13 cm.

Condition: Good very fine and intact.

Ex. Old Danish Collection from the 1960s-70s.

A lot of three very nice pottery vessels, pre 14th. cent. AD.

An intact pilgrim bottle type in glossy brownish ware, Moche Culture, c. 200-500 AD. Height 16cm.

A very rare and interesting zoomorphic vessel shaped as a seal, Columbia/Ecuador, 1st. mill. AD. Intact - hairline repair. Lenght 16 cm.

A nice anthropomorphic blackware vessel with many embossed warriors, Chimú, spout chipped, probably around 1100-1200 AD. Height 16 cm...

A wonderful small group of three ceramics, incl. a very large vessel shaped as a duck.

The duck vessel is around 24 cm. tall and massive, Tlatilco, Mexico, very early and rare, dating before 200 BC! One leg reattached and some minor chips. This comes with copy of the invoice from 1968!
Large expressive Jalizco pottery head mounted, 9 cm. wide.
A chorrera zoomorphic pot, 19 cm., from two large fragments.

Old Austrian Collection from the 1950s and onwards...

A beautiful large pottery food bowl, Pre-Columbian Moche culture, TL tested to be c. 2000 years old.

In orange ware with decorative red line at the rim.

Size c. 20 cm. in diameter.

Condition: Nice Very fine and intact. With some glue below the base from a previous mounting.

Comes with a Ralf Kotalla TL test from 1991!

Ex. Old German private Collection, aquired in the 1980s.

A large and attractive globular jar of blackware, Chimú c. 1200-1400 AD.

The vessel comes with a TL test from Ralf Kotallas lab.

Ex. Old German collection from the 1980s. Height: c. 21,5 cm.

Condition: Good Very fine, intact.

Ex. Old German collection from the 1980s.

Interesting and decorative fragment of a figural tile, Mexico, Aztecs, 1300 to 1521 AD.

The tile showing two warriors or deities fighting, one holding a dagger and both with elaborate headdresses.

Size: 26 x 19 cm. Thick.

Condition: Fragmentary, with most of the motif preserved, some corrosion to the front and more so on the back. Remnants of mortar or plaster.

Provenance: Collection of Gunna Munkvad, Denmark, aquired from the 1950s-1980s.

Pair of pottery fragments including a head with torso from the La Tolita culture, c. 200 BC-300 AD. and a very interesting head, that wears a mask that looks like a divers mask or an astronauts mask. Closely fitted over the eyes and nose. Peculiar!

Size: 44 mm. and 35 mm. tall.

Ex. Old German private Collection.

Exquisite Pre-Columbian stirrup vessel depicting Two Jaguars, an adult and cub, 500 BC–500 AD, 8" H x 10.5 ; Vicus, Peru. This piece appears in "Pre-Columbian Art" by Alan Lapiner, in color on page 186. Its broad grin is reminiscent of the characters in Maurice Sendak's book "Where the Wild Things Are." It has been reassembled from approximately 5 pieces, with the cracks filled in.

A Pre-Columbian Mayan Mushroom Stone, c. 600 AD. It's 6.5" tall and has stains on its edges from being gripped during intense ceremonies. It comes from a private Berkeley, California collection.

Ceramic figure of a Peyote Shaman, 6" tall, 2,000 years old, from Jalisco, Mexico. He has a decapitated snake in his right hand, a death bubble between his lips, and a peyote-button bowl on his head. He has faced death and returned to serve his people. Peyote is a small psychedelic cactus used in life-altering ceremonies.

An ancient amuletic bead, carved in bone of a monkey, Pre-Columbian Andean region, c. 600-1200 AD.

Attractive and still wearable with loop at the back.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Ex. Old German Private Collection, 1960-70s.

A fine and accomplished Blackware vessel with the portrait head of a man, Precolumbian Peru, Late Moche or early Chimú, 7th.-9th. century AD.

Superbly detailed, made as a grinning man with his tungue between his teeth and wearing larger earrings and headdress, the spout of the vessel prodruding from the top of his head.

Size: 15,3 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice and intact, minor chips to the spout as is usual with these, but othervise perfect.

Ex...

Lot conisists of two large celts or axes, a drop-shape piece in grey stone, lightly rough and a triangular axe in green stone, finely polished, 1st. millenium BC.

Sizes: The grey axe 14,5 cm., the green one 12,7 cm.

Condition: Choice, a few minor chips, very nice patinas.

Provenance: From an important German collection of Hermann Hemeick. The collection of 71 stone objects was collected on trips to the Dominican Republic between 1960 and 1984...

This is a beautiful Incan 18K hollow gold female idol. It is 1 1/2" tall and weighs 2 grams. Stands alone. This sale is for this figure only. The other items in the last picture are for size reference only.