Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Jequetepeque River region, Chavin culture, Tembladera phase, ca. 1200 to 1000 BCE. A fascinating pottery stirrup vessel depicting a figure, perhaps a shaman, writhing on the ground while grasping one shoulder and one knee with his hands. The sizable head projecting from the rounded shoulders features a pair of black, ovoid eyes within a russet red face, sharp nostrils, and a slight grimace as if struggling to keep his composure during a hallucinogenic trance. A raised ridge of spinal discs bulges outwards along his back, and above is a stirrup-shaped handle with a cylindrical spout above. Size: 8" L x 6.75" W x 9.25" H (20.3 cm x 17.1 cm x 23.5 cm)
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 artistic 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.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis by Oxford Labs and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A pdf of the thermoluminescence report will accompany the item upon purchase.
According to the consignor, this piece has been published in "Chavin: Spirits, Shamans, and Hallucinogenics. Ancient Art from South America," Copenhagen: published in cooperation with the National Museum of Denmark, June 1995.
Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010; ex-private Westermann collection, Germany
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#179847
Condition
Repair and restoration to proper right foot, with resurfacing and overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and small chips, with fading to pigment in some areas, and light earthen deposits, otherwise in excellent condition. Great preservation to figural form. Old TL drill hole from Oxford Labs behind left ear. Previous inventory label beneath base.