Catalog (349)

This fotted bi-chrome bowl dates Ca.850-1500 A.D. and measures 7" in diameter by 3 3/4" in height. The base color is a pale tan with chocolate brown design work. The piece depicts an elaborately attired warrior grasping a spear in his left hand and either a shield or possibly his prey on the right quadrant. He is attired in an elaborate costume with many geometric designs including opposing stepped triangles, quadrangles with dots in their centers along with brown semi circles and round circles with more dots in their centers. His headpiece is made up of tall vertical fine lines with hooks possibly representing bird feathers. Other than very minor paint loss at the upper end of the sash the bowl is in mint as-found condition with no restoration or overpaint of any kind. The underside has two wide unornamented bands circling the pedestal in the center. This bowl is particular well painted and made by a master potter of the time.

This beautifully Pre-Columbian Tairona ceremonal vessel comes from Northern Colombia and dates Ca.-200 - 500 A.D. The craftsmanship and execution are unparalleled. The boat shaped hollow body has a tall flared spout in the center. It measures 11" in length by 6 1/2" in height by 4" in width.It is a transformational vessel depicting a man transforming into a fierce Caiman with a ferocious toothy mouth. It has a dark brown body supported by four mammiform legs. The rear of the incised head of the Caiman has an open spout for pouring. According to Tairona legend the vessel would contain an hallucianatory potion to be embibed by a shaman and he would transform into a vicious creature and travel to other-worldy realms. Upon his return he would advise his clan of what he experienced during his trance and advise them as to what it meant. The jar has been reasembled from several large original segments with the crack lines filled over. The four legs may also have been re-attached. This is a fine representation of the type in all ways. Many other lack the fine shape and care that was exhibited by this talented potter.

A Mimbres lava paint bowl measuring 3 1/2" in diameter. A finely knapped light gray arrowhead measuring 3" in length. A mottled gray and white arrowhead measuring 2" in length. A delicate translucent quartzite arrowhead measuring 1 1/2" in length as well as a rare polished light pink cruciform artifact measuring 1" in length. The grouping is a fine representation of Mimbres craftsmanship. The arrowheads are much larger than most Mimbres flaked work and are rarer than the smaller bird points most often associated with The Culture.These pieces were collected many years ago on a private ranch in Southern New Mexico and are legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Laws. A COA will be provided upon purchase.

A Prehistoric Mimbres Spondylus shell bracelet along with 5 obsidian bird points. The bracelet is 2" in diameter. I collected these in the early 1960's on The Burris Ranch several miles north of Las Cruces,New Mexico. They date Ca.1100-1250 A.D. They are legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Laws.

A compact Zapotec handled jar in the form of a stylized Jaguar. CULTURE: ZAPOTEC ORIGIN: Mexico/Valley of Oaxaca/Monte Alban AGE: Ca. 600 B.C. -800 A.D. Measurements: overall length 4" height 2 3/4" width 2 1/2" in depth. DESCRIPTION: A stylized rotund Jaguar with raised ears and barred teeth in an attack position. He has deeply incised fangs,nose,eyes and feet.The overall clay body of the piece is a deep charcoal gray and there are patches of cinnamon brown surface pigment in numerous areas. These help to verify his great antiquity. He may appear small but his fierce attitude gives him a lot of visual punch!

This highly unusual Mimbres picture bowl dates Ca. 1000 - 1250 A.D. It measures 8 1/2 inches in diameter by 4 inches in height and was excavated many years ago on a private ranch near Deming, New Mexico. The vessel was found broken and professionally reassembled with all original shards so there is no "guess work" in its interior design motif.The two roadrunners create a mirrored image and the upper rim is decorated with fine line geometric designs. For whatever reason roadrunners and rattlesnakes are rarely depicted in Mimbres bowls. Whether they were meant to portray a positive or negative meaning is up for debate since there was no written language when they were created. Very few bowls with this image have ever been excavated. The bowl was excavated on a private ranch by the owner and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal laws. A COA will accompany the vessel upon purchase.

This beautiful bowl representing a single fish comes from a private ranch in Southern New Mexico and was excavated many years ago and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Mandates. A COA will be provided upon purchase. The vessel is meticulously presented. It measures 7 1/2" in diameter by 3 1/2" in height and dates Ca. 1000 - 1250A.D. The background has a bright white slip which makes the figure show to its best advantage. It has less than 1% restoration with no overpaint to the figure. Bowls of this quality rarely become available as they are either in museums or old private collections and when they are offered for sale the price is exorbitant. My personal philosophy is to price my artifacts at a realistic figure rather than having them sit for months on end because they are offered at inflated prices.

This Classic Mimbres bowl is a real stunner. It dates Ca. 1000 -1250 A.D. and was excavated on private property many years ago.It measures 12 3/4" in diameter by 6" in height.The many geometric elements include zig-zag lightening bolts, excellent fine line work, hanging triangles, and four stylized turkey tails.It was found broken into a number of original shards and professionaly restored with the cracks filled and painted over to show the bowl at its finest. Very few bowls of this quality become available on the open market.For an individual that is looking for the finest.The bowl is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Laws and a COA will be provided upon purchase.

This finely crafted work of art is a Mimbres geometric treat. It measures 10" in diameter by 5" in height. It dates Ca.-1000 -1250 A.D. The vessel sports numerous geometric designs including upright and hanging stepped pyramids, amazing fine line work and broad black lines framing the center elements. The use and design of the various elements creates a visual "3D" image. The bowl has been professionally re-assembled from three large shards with the break lines painted over to show the bowl at its best. It comes from a private Texas collection and was collected on a private ranch many years ago and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Laws. A COA will be provided upon purchase.

The best of the best in Mimbres creativity. This meticulously drawn figure of a pronghorn antelope shows the work of an amazingly talented artist. The vessel measures 7 1/2 inches in diameter by 3 inches in height. It was found broken and reassembled from several large original shards. There is less than 1 percent restoration...if that. The piece dates Ca. 1000 - 1200 A.D. It was purchased from Bonham's Auction House a number of years ago and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Laws. A COA will be provided upon purchase.

This artifact dates Ca.400 - 700 A.D. and was created in Mexico or possibly Guatemala. It measures 2 1/2"in height by 2 1/4"in width by 2" in depth. It is beautifully structured of a light brown clay. It represents a shaman or nobleman of the highest rank.He is wearing an ornate semi-circuler head piece of woven fiber and feathers which he seems to be holding in place with his hands. The figure is deeply incised. He has round eyes topped by deeply incised eyebrows,a vertical slit for a mouth,round widely open eyes,as well a small ear ornaments and a multi-strand necklace. The detailing is truly exquisite. This extravagant ornamentation could only have been worn by a shaman or nobleman of high court status. The piece is intact with absolutely no restoration. The use for these seals is still under debate. Many believe they were used for body tattooing and there has also been found in a dry cave a pastry of some sort covered in these seal representations. They could well have been used for both. Such meticulous detail in ornamentation is rarely found in a seal from this time period.

This vessel is a curious ceremonial reclining figure from Nicaragua.It measures 9" in length by 5"in width by 4" in depth. The base clay body is a deep cinnamon brown with dark black highlighting the arms, eyes, eyebrows, and two bands circling the vessel's opening. The almond shaped eyes and mouth are deeply incised.It dates Ca. 800-1200 A.D. It originates from The South Palmer culture in the Ometepe region of the country.The piece is in absolutely mint condition with no restoration or overpaint.According to several scholars it is a male figure receptacle for potions and was used in ceremonies for the purpose of aiding fertility for barren women. It was acquired by a private collector in 1976. Further attesting to its great age, there are scattered mineral accretions as well as manganese dioxide deposits present. This gem is for the collector of the rare and unusual and would stand out in any varied collection. Enjoy the photos.

This fine example of Anasazi genius comes from Northern New Mexico and dates Ca. 1210 - 1315 A.D. It is 7" in diameter by 5 1/2" in height. It is skillfully molded and so well constructed that it sits perfectly upright with no support. It is boldly and profusely decorated with numerous geometric motifs including both upright and hanging stepped pyramids circling the rim as well as elongated upright and hanging pyramids circling the entire lower globe. There is an intriguing wide zig-zag band with black dots and visually resembles tumbling dominos. This vessel is outstanding in all aspects. It is "as found" with one minuscule hair line crack which has been professionally stabilized. The jar is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal Regulations and a COA and further provenance will be provided upon purchase.

This Ramos Polychrome piece is superb in all ways.The male hooded effigy measures 9" in height by 9" in diameter and dates Ca.1250 - 1450A.D. During this period Casas Grandes was the main trade center for all of Central and South America and specialized in raising macaws and their feathers. The tan base clay is profusely decorated with numerous elaborate burnt orange and jet black geometric motifs. He has black facial tattooing with elongated almond shaped eyes along with numerous glyphs including interlocking scrolls, a wide band of stylized macaws both on the main body of the piece and the top of his cowel along with both upright and hanging stepped pyramids. He is truly a magnificent example of ancient talent and creativity. According to my research he most likely represents Tezcalipoca, who was considered the highest ritual god figure in their pantheon, or possibly Cinteotl,the god of corn. There is a very small area of his cowel which has been professionaly restored but no other changes to the original figure...no overpainting or plaster... The jar comes from an old Texas collection and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal laws. A COA will be provided upon purchase.

A great little Mimbres 3/4 grooved axe head measuring 3" in length by 2" in width.It dates Ca.1000 - 1250 A.D.It is an excellent example of the type.It was found on private property and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal laws. A certificate of authenticity will be provide upon purchase.

This bowl is visually intriguing with the body of an animal and the head of a human. It measures 6 1/2"in diameter by 3" in height. It is as found condition with no restoration of any type. There is a small hairline crack radiating out from the kill hole. It dates Ca.1000 - 1250 A.D. It is from an old private Texas collection and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal laws. A COA will be provided upon sale. For the collector who recognizes the rarity and beauty of this ageless work of genius.

This bowl measures 13 1/8" in diameter by 6" in height. The many geometric design elements are beautifully balanced to divide the bowl into 4 matching panels. There is a worn down area around the kill hole which means it wasn't made just to be looked at but for everyday usage. There are two ancient drill holes where a crack existed and some sort of fiber or leather was used to stabilize the vessel. This also helps to further show that the bowl was greatly admired so instead of being tossed it was repaired by the owner to keep it in usable condition. The bowl was excavated on a private ranch near Deming, New Mexico many years ago and is legal for private ownership under all current State and Federal laws. A COA will be provided upon purchase. To create a bowl of this size took a great deal of talent as well as patience.

This is a great little bowl. It was carefully painted with pride. It measures 4" in diameter by 2" in height. The vessel has been professionally reassembled from three segments and the kill hole and break lines have been covered over. As you will note in the photos the small amount of restoration is not visible. Most authorities agree that the flower represents the white trumpet flower of the Datura vine. After flowering the vine produces round orbs with numerous small seeds enclosed. They were ingested by the shaman and are a strong hallucinogenic and would cause a trance state. When the shaman returned he would tell the people what he learned on the other side of reality and they would use this information to guide their lives. It takes 8 seeds to create this trance and one of the side effects is you might quit breathing and die. Beauty can be deadly so please do not experiment with these seeds.