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THBValdivian Limestone Votive Plaque - Owl
Lot 77
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:
$2,500 - $3,500
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jan 10, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-01-10 10:00:00
2019-01-10 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic Winter Variety
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-asian-ethnographic-winter-variety-3780
Travel the world & back in time... Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine Art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Travel the world & back in time... Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine Art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (376)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Earliest Horizon, Valdivian, ca. 2300 to 2000 BCE. A skillfully-executed, hand-carved depiction of an abstract owl with wide rectangular eyes, rounded jowls, and an open triangular mouth, all on a quasi-ovoid plaque. The sculptor carved the bird-of-prey's low relief visage with deep, bold lines atop a pale grey-brown limestone presented with a horizontal base and a curved top profile. The verso is unadorned, though evidence of ancient striations is still visible. This aesthetic boasts attractive minimalism that appeals to our modern sensibilities and, yet, bespeaks of the ancient world. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 8.375" W x 7.25" H (21.3 cm x 18.4 cm); 9.5" H (24.1 cm) on included custom stand.
Ancient stone stelae from Ecuador, like this example, are some of the oldest stone sculptures known to exist in the Americas, dating as far back as 3500 BCE. Certainly each stele is unique; however, they do share a few common characteristics. They are usually carved from a pearly grey stone and are for the most part "blockish" in form, though this example shows rounded contours. The four most prominent themes of ancient Valdivian artistry include owls like this example, the "serpent/arrow," the sun chart, and the star chart.
The owl was widely symbolic in the Pre-Columbian world. Owls were considered to be of shamanic importance by many, guiding humans on their journeys to other worlds, the divine, and death. In some cultures, an anthropomorphic owl represents a warrior of great prominence or a god of war. As a nocturnal bird of prey, the owl was also associated with night hunters, darkness, and even the Underworld itself.
Provenance: private Snow Mass, Colorado, USA collection, acquired from Artemis Gallery in 2015; ex-private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Texas, USA collection
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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#139382Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, small nicks to peripheries and carved details, with some deep scratch marks across both obverse and reverse sides, and minor darkening to stone color, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice earthen deposits throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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