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THBHuge Nazca Polychrome Olla - Serpent w/ Trophy Head
Lot 20
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$2,400 - $3,600
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Oct 15, 2020
Set Reminder
2020-10-15 12:00:00
2020-10-15 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Art of the Americas - Ancient to Present
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/art-of-the-americas---ancient-to-present-5840
Ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the Americas - Pre-Columbian, Native American, Northwest Coast, Spanish Colonial, more. All legally acquired, all legal to sell, all guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Convenient in-house shipping! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the Americas - Pre-Columbian, Native American, Northwest Coast, Spanish Colonial, more. All legally acquired, all legal to sell, all guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Convenient in-house shipping! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (127)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, south coast of Peru, Nazca, ca. 220 BCE to 125 CE. An enormous, deep-walled polychrome bowl, its exterior finely decorated with a large trophy head attached to a long serpentine/centipede-like body, in hues of red, orange, cream, chocolate brown, and white. The trophy head's eyes are closed and its mouth is pinned or sewn shut - dramatically capturing its demise. Interestingly, this trophy head appears to merge with a serpent body resembling that of the so-called Serpentine Creature whose body is traditionally filled with trophy heads, only his characteristic feline mask has been replaced by that of the sizeable trophy head. A strong example with an amazing iconographic program adorning its exterior walls. Size: 12.75" in diameter x 7.875" H (32.4 cm x 20 cm)
Mummified trophy heads date to the pre-ceramic period in ancient Peru. Perhaps the most extensive practice of headhunting occurred along the south coast of Peru in the Nazca and Inca valleys where the early Paracas and succeeding Nazca cultures resided. Head-taking was a significant component of their warfare and religious mythology. A warrior could increase his might and status by capturing prisoners for head-taking. According to scholar Paul A. Clifford, the fact that the lips of trophy heads are pinned shut " . . . implies that head-taking might mean the acquisition of a slain enemy's power or the prevention of his soul or spirit from harming the killer. Pinning lips shut on the trophy head could inhibit the loss of the soul or power embodied within the head." (cf. Art of the Andes: Pre-Columbian Sculptured and Painted Ceramics from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation: Washington D.C., 1983, p. 251.)
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex H. J. Westermann Collection, Germany
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.
#148354Professionally repaired from multiple pieces with restoration over the breaklines. Normal surface wear with scuffs to pigment here and there. Still a remarkable example, quite large with a vibrant painted program.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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