Chavin Shell Pendant - Running Jaguar

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Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Jul 5, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-05 10:00:00 2018-07-05 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-3306
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chavin, ca. 1200 to 500 BCE. A diminutive, hand-carved shell pendant depicting a jaguar in mid-stride. The feline features a pair of slender legs tucked beneath its bulbous body, a thin tail curled up around its posterior, and an enormous incised mouth filled with fangs. The eye, situated in the center of the animal's face, is composed of a small inlaid lapiz lazuli fragment set inside a circular spondylus shell hoop. A biconically-drilled suspension hole is set vertically into the beast's back, making this a wonderful example! Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 1.125" L x 0.875" H (2.9 cm x 2.2 cm); 2.625" H (6.7 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  The Chavin people lived in the northern Highland Andes, and their capital, Chavin de Huantar, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The artwork of Chavin represents the first widespread style in the Andes. The center of Chavin de Huantar is a massive, flat-topped pyramid, surrounded by lower platforms. Between 1200 and 500 BCE the pyramid space was used for religious ceremonies. The Old Temple, constructed very early in the history of the site, consists of a series of passageways built around a circular courtyard; within were carved stone monuments showing jaguars, serpents, and other figures with transformative and/or anthropomorphic figures. At the very center is a towering stone stela depicting an anthropomorphic figure with a jaguar head and a human body, believed to be Lanzon, the chief deity of Chavin. Researchers believe that worshippers ingested hallucinogenic drugs, in part using spoons like this one, and then were led in the dark through the labyrinthine passageways before entering the central courtyard and coming abruptly face-to-face with the snarling features of the god.
  
  Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private H. J. Westermann collection, Germany, acquired between 1960 and 1970
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #132536

  Condition

  Age-commensurate surface wear, small nicks to head and legs, light discoloration, and fading to some facial features, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits throughout.
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