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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Americas: Pre Columbian: Pottery: Pre 1492: Item # 859666

Please refer to our stock # LS200911 when inquiring.

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Ancient Artifacts
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5526 W. 13400 S. Suite 436
Herriman, UT 84096


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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. Dimensions: stem length, 14 cm, bowl height, 9cm, bowl diameter, 2.5 cm. The pipe was cleanly cracked near the center and glued together. It was not professionally repaired and the repair is not noticeable unless very closely inspected. Of all pre-Columbian artifacts, Aztec pipes from the Valley of Mexico rank as the rarest. BEWARE, I have seen some on the market priced for several hundred dollars that are obvious fakes. You can rest assured that this pipe and others I have listed are authentic. They were found by the world famous late Dr. Allen Heflin. He marked it on the bottom as being found on 7/16/60 at Cautitlan, Mexico. His collection consisted of over 10,000 pieces that he personally found. Heflin's collection was on display in the University of Missouri Museum in 1985. This piece was museum catalog number 67. A copy of the catalog is included. There is only one book written on Aztec pipes. PIPAS PRECORTESIANAS was written by Muriel N. Porter in 1948. Porter states that Aztec pipes are extremely scarce and "we can almost say that pipes were unknown". Only 37 were found in grave offerings at Churubusco associated with Aztec III and IV pottery. Only one other of this type is known to exist and that pipe is shown in pictures here. This is truly a rare offering with the finest provenance possible.