Lot 92
Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chimu, ca. 900 to 1470 CE. A blackware pottery canteen modeled in the form of a bat, its broad, rounded body pressed into a flattened circular shape. The surface is covered with dense punctate impressions, creating a textured field that highlights the raised silhouette of the bat's wings and garment-like chest panel. The wings extend across the face of the vessel in sweeping arcs, their edges marked by incised linear details that emphasize the creature's distinctive anatomy. At the top of the vessel, the bat's head emerges fully modeled, with circular protruding eyes, a blunt snout, and a small, toothy mouth. The neck transitions into a short cylindrical spout that flares slightly at the rim. The base is a low round pedestal that stabilizes the flattened form. The entire surface has been reduction-fired, producing the dark metallic sheen typical of Chimu blackware. Size: 3.7" L x 7.3" W x 8.9" H (9.4 cm x 18.5 cm x 22.6 cm)
Bat imagery appears in various North Coast traditions and may have been associated with nighttime, transformation, or liminal spaces. Canteens of this type were functional containers, but their effigy forms also suggest symbolic or ceremonial use. The combination of bold figural modeling and textured surfaces reflects the technical range and visual clarity characteristic of Chimu ceramic workshops. This piece is a well-preserved example of Chimu effigy canteen production, distinguished by its clear bat iconography and balanced sculptural form.
Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000
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#199476
- Condition: Convex base inhibits piece from standing up sturdily without support. Losses to rim., but otherwise rest is intact with minimal surface wear. Great remaining detail with scattered earthen deposits and root marks in areas.
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