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THBPre-Columbian Chimu / Inca Silver Keros (pr)
Lot 76
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:
$1,800 - $2,500
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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| $100,000 | $10,000 |
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Dec 10, 2020
Set Reminder
2020-12-10 12:00:00
2020-12-10 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : All That Glitters | Ancient & Ethnographic
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/all-that-glitters-ancient-ethnographic-6192
Think glass, silver, gold, bronze, brass, wearable, decorative, worth owning! Unique finds from Egypt, Greece, Italy, the Near East. Asian art from east to west. Pre-Columbian. Spanish Colonial. Fabulous Russian Icons with silver oklads. Ancient / Ethnographic jewelry, and more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Think glass, silver, gold, bronze, brass, wearable, decorative, worth owning! Unique finds from Egypt, Greece, Italy, the Near East. Asian art from east to west. Pre-Columbian. Spanish Colonial. Fabulous Russian Icons with silver oklads. Ancient / Ethnographic jewelry, and more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (126)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Chimu / Inca cultures, ca. 1100 to 1400 CE. A pair of 83 to 88% silver keros drinking cups. A sheet of silver metal shaped into matching cylindrical walls with a flat base and a protruding rim. The rim is stamped with criss -crossing lines that encircle the mouth. The keru vessel is a ceremonial cup that was an important part of rituals in several Andean cultures. Precious metals such as gold and silver were considered as forms of sunlight or moonlight, and silver was often chosen as the material to invoke the divine qualities of moonlight! Silver quality: 83-88%; size: 3.5" W x 3.6" H (8.9 cm x 9.1 cm); weight of both: 151.5 grams.
The keru form was also created by Chimu and Inca cultures as well as other peoples of the ancient world. However, the indigenous of Peru created these for more than just domestic purposes. The ornate ones were used during life and for the afterlife at funerary ceremonies that incorporated intricate religious libations and imbibing rites. To create this piece, the ancient metalsmith hammered a piece of silver into a very thin sheet, approximately the size of the finished work. Then, the artisan used fine-grained stone anvils and hammer stones made of hematite or green porphyry, sometimes with animal hide attached, and a wooden template was used to create the form as the metalsmith hammered the silver sheet upon the wooden template. The Spaniards did not understand the ritualistic function of kerus and believed the cups might contain secret messages of rebellion within their ornamental designs. The Spaniards sadly destroyed large quantities of kerus during sixteenth century in an attempt to quell dissent. Nevertheless, beautiful examples, such as this pair, survived the massive purges.
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000 from Artemis Gallery.
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.
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#159029Surface wear and indentations. Small perforation on side of one. Rich patina on the interior cavity.Condition
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