Lot 342
Native American, Southeastern United States, Mississippian Caddo culture, ca. 1200 to 1400 CE. A rare ceramic vessel with a rounded body and short neck, sculpted in high relief with human hands and bone motifs that wrap around the shoulder of the form. Single hands are lifted skyward, a potent gesture suggesting prayer, protection, or communication with the spirit world, while paired hands appear closer to the base as if cradling the vessel. Open palm imagery is found across Mississippian art and is often linked to the hand-and-eye symbol. While the full meaning of these motifs remains uncertain, some research has interpreted the hand form as a celestial or cosmological sign, possibly referencing a portal to the afterlife. The surrounding bone imagery further reinforces a funerary association, giving this vessel a powerful ceremonial presence. Size: 8.5" W x 6.5" H (21.6 cm x 16.5 cm)
Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection; ex-New York, USA collection; ex-Bonhams, San Francisco, California, USA, June 2, 2014, "Native American Art," lot 2082
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#201036
- Condition: Repaired with breaklines visible across the surface as shown. Old losses to rim. Overall amazing preservation and rare motifs. Old inventory number on the base.
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