Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 400 CE. A fascinating portrait vessel depicting a smiling human face with an expressive visage comprised of squinting eyes, thick brows, a protruding nose, a toothy grin flanked by laugh lines, and a cap-like coiffure, all rising from a short neck that also serves as the base of the vessel. The Moche created impressively naturalistic representations of human countenances with highly individualized features on their ceramic vessels. These were among the few veristic portrayals of humans created in the Precolumbian world. Size: 4.625" L x 4.25" W x 4.75" H (11.7 cm x 10.8 cm x 12.1 cm)
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950 to 1960s
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#160651
Condition
Professionally repaired from about 10 to 12 pieces with restoration over the break lines. Minute nicks to rim, periphery of base, tip of nose, chin, and other high-pointed areas. Normal surface wear with scuffs here and there. Nice burnishing marks and scattered deposits.