Colima Pottery Lidded Drum Vessel w/ Serpent Motifs

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Fall Antiquities & Ethnographic Art Auction

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 21, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-10-21 10:00:00 2021-10-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fall Antiquities & Ethnographic Art Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fall-antiquities-ethnographic-art-auction-7725
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Fine art, and much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. This is a fascinating hand-built pottery vessel in a style known as a "drum," complete with a fitted lid and serpentine motifs. The exterior walls are adorned with four U-shaped, double-headed serpents in relief, each end with punctuated eyes and incised with stippling on the body and horizontal neck markings. Within the arched bodies are anthropomorphic heads in relief with stylized visages and earspools. The tall vessel rises from the flat base, and the lid sits nicely on top the thick rim. The bicephalic serpent (or dragon) was a signifier of high rank in various Pre-Columbian world views. These two-headed beasts were regarded as sky bands that arched over the earth or surrounded the seas serving as a passageway for the planets and stars of the celestial realm. A fascinating example from the Colima culture, replete with highly symbolic iconography and the finest artistry. Size of vessel w/ lid: 7.5" Diameter x 9" H (19 cm x 22.9 cm); lid: 7.75" Diameter x 1.5" H (19.7 cm x 3.8 cm)
  
  The bicephalic serpent motif decorated wares were associated with individuals of high rank, thus linking them with the powers of this mighty creature. Beyond this, even the singular serpent is a fascinating element of Pre-Columbian iconography as it was regarded to be a beneficial source of nourishment and at the same time quite deadly with its toxic venom. Also important to the indigenous was the fact that snakes shed their skin annually thus rejuvenating themselves and serving as symbols of renewal and good health.
  
  Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private Huber collection, 1960s
  
  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.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #148197

  Condition

  Professionally repaired and restored. Lid may not be original to this particular vessel. Lid is repaired from approximately 5 pieces with restoration to the rim. Vessel is repaired from over a dozen pieces with infill to gaps and some fissures. Visible break lines on both. Black pigments on vessel are chipping and faded. Modern paint stains to exterior. Some softening and chips to relief motifs, but they are mostly intact. Nice manganese deposits.
• Shipping Info

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