Superb Moche Bi-chrome Warrior Portrait Vessel

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Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 3, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-12-03 10:00:00 2020-12-03 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-6119
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche III, ca. 400 to 500 CE. A superb and highly decorated portrait vessel created by the Moche culture. The Moche of northern Peru may be the only ancient culture of the Americas that produced true portrait vessels. In fact, scholars have been able to follow the progression of age and rank of several individuals portrayed in Moche pottery. This example depicts a frontal visage of a proud warrior donning impressive, sizeable ornaments including a grand crescentic nose ring, round polka dotted earspools, and a jaguar helmet tethered beneath his chin with spotted ties to represent jaguar pelt. Above the fierce jaguar visage are sinuous serpentine creatures as well, and all is painted in red and cream slip. An outstanding Moche warrior portrait vessel with a veristic visage, adorned in a manner that is opulent and highly symbolic! Size: 6.875" W x 11" H (17.5 cm x 27.9 cm)
  
  Jaguar imagery symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world. Warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World. In addition, the principal Moche god Ai Apec wears a headdress adorned with a jaguar head and paws, and important mortals like the gentleman depicted in this example donned similar headdresses. A nocturnal animal, the jaguar sleeps in caves and dark places and creeps quietly in the forest, evoking great mystery. Oddly enough, few Moche artists would have actually scene jaguars as they are not indigenous to the coast. Jaguars prefer moist forest conditions. However, scholars believe that some cubs were transported over the mountains for Moche rituals and it is also possible that some jaguars wandered down the coast.
  
  The serpent is also a fascinating element of Pre-Columbian iconography as it was regarded to be a beneficial source of nourishment and at the same time quite deadly with its poisonous venom. Also important to the indigenous was the fact that snakes shed their skin annually, thus rejuvenating themselves and serving as symbols of renewal and good health.
  
  Provenance: ex-private Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private A. Cajigas collection, Spain, acquired before 1976
  
  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.
  
  #159737

  Condition

  Petite chip to periphery of base. Normal surface wear with slight losses to pigmentation here and there, but otherwise excellent. Minor, almost invisible repair to stirrup spout, else near choice.
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