Description:

Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Aztec and Tarascan cultures, 14th - 15th centuries. While rare, never seen before objects capture our immediate attention, sometimes common, everyday objects can spark our imaginations as well. The miniature Aztec metate in this lot is one such piece. Similar to mortar and pestle, metates were and still are used to grind corn, grain, and spices. A smaller stone called a "mano", meaning hand, would have been rubbed back and forth over the metate to engender a grinding effect. Aztec metates took the form of a slanted slab on three short legs as a base. While not a ceremonial metate, this one was used by ordinary people in their daily lives. The miniature terracotta olla in this lot was created by an artisan of the Tarascan culture. It shows a lovely rich plum hue and a row of striated carved markings along its exterior. The olla corsets inward at the shoulder and has perforations for suspension. The fact that it is paired with an Aztec work in this lot is intriguing if only because the Tarascan state was contemporary with and an enemy of the Aztec Empire! 3 1/2"L x 2 1/2"W x 1 1/8"T (metate) and 2"D at widest x 1 1/2"T (olla).

Provenance: Ex-Gilbert Martin Collection, Georgia, USA

All items offered for sale are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statutes covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids, papered by our parent company, Artemis Gallery Ancient Art.

  • Condition: Expected wear on both pieces. The olla has one tiny area of restoration on shoulder. Else intact and near choice.

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March 14, 2014 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000