Lot 21
Native American, Southeastern United States, Mississippian culture, Arkansas, ca. 1350 to 1500 CE. A handsome Mississippian tripod jar, built with a tall neck and rounded body, and lifted on three stout legs that give the vessel both presence and stability. The jar is formed with a bulbous chamber and an elongated cylindrical neck that flares gently at the rim. Three rounded supports project from the underside, creating a tripod base that raises the vessel off the ground and gives it a distinctly sculptural silhouette. The surface is plain and unpainted, with natural firing tones ranging from warm tan to smoky gray, preserving the direct, earthy character of the clay. Tripod vessels occupy a special place in Mississippian ceramic traditions. Their elevated form suggests practical and possibly ceremonial functions, allowing the jar to stand securely on uneven surfaces or near heat sources. Size: 6.2" Diameter x 9.3" H (15.7 cm x 23.6 cm)
In Mississippian communities, pottery served as both essential household equipment and a medium for skilled expression, and even an undecorated example like this shows a high level of control in proportion, balance, and construction. This vessel is purportedly from Pulaski County, Arkansas, near Little Rock, and is said to have been found by B.W. Stephens. Its strong profile and confident engineering make it a compelling representative of late Mississippian pottery, where form alone could carry authority.
A similar example can be found at Royal Ontario Museum, object number 888.9.51.
Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private New York, USA collection, acquired December 2015 via a private seller; ex-Dr. Young collection, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; ex-B.W. Stephens, Quincy, Illinois, USA, found in Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA
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#201044
- Condition: Chipping to rim and some light surface wear as shown, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with rich, earthy scent. Old collection labels and find site inscribed on underside of base. Accompanied by a photograph of another similar vessel.
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