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THBRare Aztec Polychrome Bell of Quetzalcoatl Head w/ TL
Lot 68
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
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$4,000 - $6,000
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|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $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
Apr 8, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-04-08 10:00:00
2021-04-08 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-6770
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine Art, so much more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine Art, so much more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (327)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Aztec, ca. 1300 to 1521 CE. A wonderful and rare handmade terracotta bell in the form of Quetzalcoatl in a pale hue of russet. Spherical in form, the ancient instrument is hollowed out with a slit on the verso to hold a small rattle, allowing it to create a delightful sound. The eccentric face features a pair of huge, heavy-lidded eyes flanking a curved nose decorated with ridges, a long tongue fixed with a triangular embellishment on its end, and a large, flat tab-shape protruding from his neck. Fit with two feathers atop his head, the intriguing deity is fitted with a pair of ears boasting lovely rectangular adornments. The feathers are connected via a double strip of clay that is attached to a thick, ribbon loop that creates a handle, which is decorated with a projecting target-like embellishment on the front and three petite discoid decorations on the back. Remarkably preserved remains of cream and blue pigments can be found throughout the lightly burnished surface of this lovely example. Size: 6" L x 6.5" W (15.2 cm x 16.5 cm) Size: 6.125" W x 6" H (15.6 cm x 15.2 cm); 8" H (20.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Quetzalcoatl - "Feathered Serpent" in the Nahuatl language - is the Pre-Columbian deity revered as lord of wind and sky. The earliest representations of Quetzalcoatl adorn the Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Teotihuacan, Mexico (ca. 3rd century CE) where numerous stone heads of the divine plumed snake embellish the steps of this Pre-Classic pyramid. The pioneering artist/anthropologist Miguel Covarrubias whose writings and illustrations on indigenous cultures of the ancient Americas continue to contribute to scholarly studies today stated, "Quetzalcoatl stood for all that was good in this world: peace, art, wisdom, and prosperity. Disguised as an ant, he discovered maize, the staple food of the Indians, hidden under the mountain of Substance, Tonacatepetl; he also invented the arts, the sciences, and the calendar. In fact, everything connected with wisdom and culture was attributed to Quetzalcoatl." (Miguel Covarrubias, Mexico South: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946), 130.
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: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Richard Scheiferle collection, Conneticut, USA, between 1970 to 2000
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.
#113668Collection label on base. Repair to ears and possible repairs to projecting facial features. Expected surface wear with nicks/chips and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with liberal remains of pigment and light earthen deposits in recessed areas.Condition
- Shipping Info
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