Lot 26
Pre-Columbian, Colombia or Ecuador, Tumaco/La Tolita, ca. 500 CE. A very large hollow pottery sculpture depicting a stylized shark, rendered in a distinctive abstracted form characteristic of Tumaco/La Tolita ceramic art. The body tapers to a pointed tail with incised fins, while the head takes on a terrestrial, almost ungulate aspect - broad-snout with raised circular eyes, and a deeply incised rows of triangular-patterned teeth. Two dorsal fins rise from the back. The work's monumental scale and stylized anatomy suggest a symbolic or ritual function, possibly related to marine deities or mythic hybrid creatures within coastal Tumaco/La Tolita cosmology. Size: 22.5" L x 12.5" W x 8.75" H (57.2 cm x 31.8 cm x 22.2 cm)
Scholarly studies of the La Tolita phase (ca. 500 BCE-500 CE) note that shark effigies were a recurring theme in the region's ceramic tradition, reflecting both artistic sophistication and symbolic meaning. Clay figures shaped as sharks or other cartilaginous fish were produced using standardized forms that highlighted key anatomical features. These were not merely decorative or utilitarian objects but carried social and ritual significance, possibly linked to marine deities or powers associated with the sea. Their presence underscores the cultural and economic importance of marine life to coastal pre-Hispanic communities. Such representations reveal how sharks held dual value - as essential food sources and as symbols of supernatural or protective strength.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report will accompany the item upon purchase.
Provenance: private Burbank, Illinois, USA collection via inheritance 2024, acquired between 1970s to 2000s
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#196310
- Condition: Professionally repaired and restored, and repairs are nearly indiscernible, with modern infill along breaklines and filling gaps. Chips and losses to several fins as shown. Four Tl holes: on the underside, left fin underside, rear underside, and right fin underside.
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