Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru (North Coast), Moche Culture, ca. 100 to 700 CE. A bizarre and fascinating four-faced vessel with a tall stirrup handle and cylindrical spout. The wide-sided faces of the vessel have huge eyes, human-like noses, and fanged mouths; the narrow-sided faces share the eyes but have animalistic snouts and teeth full of smaller, but equally fierce teeth. Four tiny arms with human-like hands are around the base. This may represent the union of jaguar and shaman. It is truly a unique and well-made piece. Size: 5.4" L x 6.45" W x 10.55" H (13.7 cm x 16.4 cm x 26.8 cm)

Part of religious practice in this society was the ritual ingestion of hallucinogenic or otherwise mind-altering drugs in order for a shaman or priest to assume an animalistic state. Jaguar imagery symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world; hence, warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex H. J. Westermann collection, Germany

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#127010

  • Condition: Spout/handle and top of head have been repaired/restored with overpainting.

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October 12, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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