Lot 131A
Chavin Pottery Vessel - Tapering, Squash-Form Body
Chavin Pottery Vessel - Tapering, Squash-Form Body
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Pre-Columbian, North-Central Andes, Chavin culture, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A hand-built pottery bottle from the Chavin culture, notable for its simplicity of form and strong architectural presence. The vessel is wheel-less in manufacture, its body rising from a flat base into a bell-like profile with subtly faceted sides, tapering into a tall, narrow spout. The surface bears the variegated tones of firing, ranging from warm reddish-browns to grayish blacks, evidence of the vessel's creation within an open-air or pit-firing environment. Chavin ceramics are among the earliest in the Andes to emphasize both sculptural innovation and symbolic abstraction. While some vessels from this culture display elaborate iconography of deities, animals, or geometric patterns, this piece instead reflects the Chavin mastery of form itself, where restrained silhouette and refined firing produce a striking visual effect. Size: 5.5" Diameter x 8.9" H (14 cm x 22.6 cm)
The bottle's shape may reference that of a squash or gourd or indicate ritual use, perhaps designed for pouring libations or holding chicha (maize beer) within ceremonial contexts. This vessel embodies the dual qualities that define Chavin art: an early move toward standardized forms that would influence later Andean ceramic traditions, and a sense of quiet monumentality in even the most utilitarian objects.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired July 2025; ex-Los Angeles Modern Auctions, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA
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#197648
- Condition: Light surface wear with a few minor nicks and abrasions as shown, but otherwise, intact and excellent. Great form with liberal remains of incised detail.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |