Pre-Columbian, Peru, Moche, Phase V, ca. 600 to 750 CE. A mold-formed stirrup vessel featuring a flat base and bulbous body depicting a charming frog, perhaps a toad, with a curious look on its face. His legs and feet are nicely delineated in relief against the body, forming a patient crouching position as well as a sturdy base for the vessel. The eyes are massive ovoid shapes - deeply incised and with thick outlines around them, giving them a bulging, lifelike appearance. The mouth is finely incised to appear closed. A beautifully preserved example! Size: 7" L x 5" W x 5.75" H (17.8 cm x 12.7 cm x 14.6 cm)
Toads and frogs are common iconography in the pre-Columbian New World, where their tadpole-to-land-animal life cycle resulted in them becoming symbols of rebirth. Some toads were also known for their hallucinogenic secretions and toad remains are commonly found in tombs. The Jesuit Bernabe Cobo, in his "Historia del Nuevo Mundo" written in the early 1600s, recorded that the common toad (in Quechua, the "hampatu") was venerated by local people in the Andes. He noted its connection to water, and Incan art (a successor of the Moche), such as the stone of Sayhuite, depicts toads in water basins and near other symbols of water. From the life-giving properties of water, it seems likely that toads were also associated with fertility.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase
Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA
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.
#164939
Condition
A hairline fissure run vertically along one the hind legs - though it is non-threatening to the structure of the vessel. Painted pigments have faded over time. Minor chipping to spout’s rim. Overall surface wear commensurate with age. TL test drill holes on bottom of base and underneath handle. Otherwise, in excellent condition with an intriguing stone like surface.