Lot 12
Native American, Southeastern United States, Mississippian Caddo culture, ca. 900 to 1400 CE. A masterwork of balance and motion, this Caddo blackware tripod bottle rises on three sturdy legs like a vessel poised to step forward. Its globular body swells confidently from a triadic base, supporting a tall, tapering neck that flares gently at the rim, a silhouette at once elegant and architectural. Hand-coiled and carefully burnished, the surface bears the deep charcoal sheen characteristic of Caddo blackware, achieved through controlled firing in a reduced oxygen environment. Across the shoulder and body, finely incised decoration animates the form. Broad spiral medallions unfurl with rhythmic precision, bordered by scalloped lines and filled with crosshatched fields. Between them, vertically oriented panels create a measured cadence, their lattice patterns contrasting with smooth expanses of polished clay. Size: 7.8" L x 7.3" W x 10.6" H (19.8 cm x 18.5 cm x 26.9 cm)
The design may symbolize movement, cycles, or cosmological forces, themes that recur in Caddoan ceramic traditions.
The tripod construction is not merely sculptural - it is functional engineering. Raised on three legs, the vessel could be set securely above embers or a small hearth, allowing heat to circulate beneath the rounded body for warming liquids or heating food. In this way, the form bridges daily necessity and artistic refinement, transforming a practical cooking solution into a work of visual sophistication.
Tripod vessels of this type were more than utilitarian containers. Water bottles with narrow necks were ideal for storing and pouring liquids, yet their careful finish and intricate ornament suggest a role in ceremonial or high-status domestic contexts. Caddo potters were among the most accomplished ceramicists of the Mississippian world, their work distinguished by refined symmetry, thin walls, and complex engraved motifs that often relate to broader Mississippian symbolic traditions.
The vessel stands firmly on three flaring legs, each carefully integrated into the rounded body to create both stability and sculptural presence. The dark surface retains areas of warm earthen tone, and the incisions remain crisp and legible, preserving the dynamism of the original design. A compelling example of Mississippian Caddo artistry, this tripod water bottle embodies technical mastery, symbolic sophistication, and a profound understanding of form in space.
Cf. The Hodges Collection, 77-1 / 36-16.
Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection; ex-Daniel Wolf, New York, USA collection, acquired March 2014; ex-Tony Putty Artifacts, Shelbyville, Indiana, USA; ex-Kevin Pipes collection, USA
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#201110
- Condition: Professionally repaired and restored with restoration and repainting over break lines. All three legs are modern, spout reattached. Chipping along a few visible break lines in areas. Surface wear commensurate with age as shown.
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