Lot 8A
Pre-Columbian, Peru, Central Andes, Huari (Wari) culture, ca. 600 to 1000 CE. A striking Huari terracotta vessel modeled in the form of a jaguar head, the body globular with a tall cylindrical neck rising above the sculpted face. The jaguar's features are boldly rendered: wide, almond-shaped eyes under heavy brows, a prominent nose, and a gaping mouth exposing bared teeth, all enhanced with painted details in cream and black pigment. Projecting ears rise from either side of the vessel, further emphasizing the feline identity. In Huari art, the jaguar was a potent symbol of power, transformation, and shamanic authority. Revered across the Andes, the feline embodied both earthly and supernatural strength, moving between realms as a liminal creature associated with the night, hunting, and the spiritual world. Vessels such as this likely served in ritual contexts, holding libations or offerings while also embodying the presence of the animal spirit itself. Size: 5.6" L x 6" W x 7.2" H (14.2 cm x 15.2 cm x 18.3 cm)
The bold expression and sculptural modeling reflect the Huari taste for figural pottery that fused utility with religious symbolism. Comparable examples are preserved in major Andean collections, where they are recognized as ceremonial vessels linked to elite ritual practices. This vessel, with its vivid features and imposing form, remains a powerful testament to the enduring mystique of the jaguar in Pre-Columbian thought.
Provenance: private Colorado collection, USA; previously bequeathed to the Museum for Islamic Art, Jerusalem, Israel, stored for many years and exhibited in 1988; ex-Yosef A. Maiman collection, Consul of Peru A.H., acquired in 1993; ex-Kate Kemper collection, Switzerland, acquired in the 1940s or earlier
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#197034
- Condition: Chipping to rim and proper left cheek and ear, as well as nicks and abrasions to surface, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with liberal remaining pigments and light earthen encrustations to the interior.
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