Lot 181A
Pre-Columbian. Bolivia and coastal Peru, Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku) / Huari (Wari), ca. 600 to 800 CE. A polychrome pottery goblet, its flaring rim, rounded body, and narrow base painted in bold geometric designs. The surface is adorned with interlocking rectilinear patterns in red, cream, and black pigments, creating a striking maze-like effect. Just above the rim, a small zoomorphic ornament projects upward, likely representing an animal head, adding a lively sculptural accent to the vessel's painted decoration. Inside the rim, zigzag motifs continue the vibrant design, underscoring the goblet's ceremonial purpose. This piece may be attributed to either the Huari or Tiwanaku culture, two closely related civilizations of the Middle Horizon. Their shared iconography, known as the Southern Andean Iconographic Series, reflects strong cultural interaction - whether through trade, migration, or military contact. Size: 4.6" L x 4.4" W x 5.5" H (11.7 cm x 11.2 cm x 14 cm)
Both traditions emphasized geometric abstraction and zoomorphic imagery to convey themes of cosmic order and religious authority. Goblets of this type were likely used in ritual drinking ceremonies, where feasting and libations reinforced alliances and devotion. The combination of intricate surface painting with the projecting zoomorphic ornament makes this a fine example of the shared Huari-Tiwanaku artistic tradition.
Provenance: ex-Robert Morris Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-Marianne and Robert Huber collection, Dixon, Illinois, USA, acquired 1970s to 1980s
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#196724
- Condition: Some small areas of light abrasions and surface wear, but otherwise, intact and excellent with great pigments and scattered earthen deposits. A few root marks in areas.
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