Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Huari (Wari), ca. 700 to 1000 CE. An interesting example of a hand-carved wooden kero (drinking cup) with a wide base, a bulbous body, and a thick shoulder surmounted by a small cylindrical vessel. The lower body of the composition depicts a stylized musician standing on delineated legs, with bent arms holding a vertical set of pan flutes, and wearing lengthy robes and a thick headdress with short, striated ear flaps. The eyes, mouth, and clover-form headdress ornament are composed of inlaid mother-of-pearl (also known as nacre), and light-orange pieces of spondylus shell accentuate additional headdress panels as well as the body of the pan flute. An intriguing and elegantly-decorated example from ancient Peru! Size: 3.125" W x 7.75" H (7.9 cm x 19.7 cm).
The Huari/Wari culture began to develop during the late Moche era. This culture, centered on a capital to the south of Moche territory in the central highlands of Peru, rose as the Moche culture fell apart and before the Chimu asserted themselves on the north coast. They had extensive contact with other regions in the Andes, most notably the Tiahuanaco in present-day Bolivia, and the Nazca and the Pachacamac on the south and central coast of Peru. Hence there is no homogenous Huari style. Instead we see a wide range of visual expressions in their wood carvings and ceramics.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection
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#146494
Condition
Minor abrasions and nicks to legs, body, head, vessel, and inlays, with light encrustations within some recessed areas, and light softening to some finer details, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits and great dark patina throughout.