Cocle Polychrome Pedestal Bowl w/ Crocodile God

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Ancient / Ethnographic Around The World

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 12, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-03-12 10:00:00 2020-03-12 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic Around The World https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-around-the-world-4957
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Panama, Cocle, ca. 1000 to 1400 CE. A beautiful Cocle pedestal vessel of a classic design comprised of an ample bowl rising from an integral, concave, flared pedestal base that is adorned by openwork barb-shaped motifs. The tondo of the bowl is finely decorated with a highly abstract image of the Crocodile God delineated in red, purple, and black - the purple indicative of the Macaracas style. Part human and part reptile, the so-called Crocodile God looks out at the viewer with an intimidating visage comprised of leering eyes, an open mouth revealing sharp teeth, and a wild spiraled headdress/coiffure. He stands boldly with outspread limbs ending in long claws, and is surrounded by spiny/barbed darts (a motif also captured in the openwork of the pedestal). Scholars believe that while this iconography may be frightening, its powerful energy was intended for good, to protect against evil spirits. Size: 10.125" in diameter x 5.625" H (25.7 cm x 14.3 cm)
  
  According to scholar Samuel Kirkland Lothrop, "The Gran Cocle culture is a Pre-Columbian archaeological culture that gets its name from the area from which it was based, the now present-day Cocle province of Panama. The Gran Cocle term applies to a loosely studied group of Native American sub-cultures in this region, identified by their pottery styles. The overall period spans a time from 150 B.C. to the end in the 16th century A.D. upon Spanish contact. The most ancient culture is the La Mula period from 150 B.C. to 300 A.D. The La Mula and later Monagrillo and Tonosi pottery styles are identified by their the use of three paint colors which were black, red and white (or cream). The later Cubita style saw the emergence of the use of four colors. The styles of Conte, Macaracas and Joaquín added purple to their palette and this hue ranged from grayish tones to red purple. The use of purple disappeared in the subsequent styles of Parita and El Altillo and the paint style reverted back to the use of three colors. Most notable in the artistic renderings are the overt use of geometric designs." (For more information, see Armand Labbe, "Guardians of The Life Stream: Shamans, Art and Power in Prehispanic Central Panama" - Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, University of Washington Press, 1995.)
  
  Provenance: ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired prior to 2000
  
  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.
  
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  #153783

  Condition

  Professionally repaired from multiple pieces, but very well done. Abrasion/loss to small area of rim as shown. Old collection label on interior of pedestal base. Earthen encrustation on interior of pedestal base.
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