Description:

Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca, ca. 250 to 540 CE. A wonderful polychrome terracotta canteen vessel boasting an impressively painted iconographical program, the exterior walls depicting a large-scale trophy head deity/taster tasting several heads - delineated in an abstract style characteristic of the Nazca artisans, in a beautiful color palette comprised of red, orange, grey, white, and black hues. Interestingly, the color scheme of each taster is not identical but rather complements the other. Simply fabulous! Size: 6.75" W x 7.75" H (17.1 cm x 19.7 cm)

The fact that we see a pair of Trophy Head tasters on this vessel is indicative of the concept of dualism that is so deeply rooted in Andean cultural traditions. Pairs of entities reflect the fundamental understanding of the continuum between life and death, male and female, sun and moon, left and right, day and night, peaks and valleys . . . central complementary ideologies that determined the religious beliefs and practices of Andean societies.

Provenance: ex-private Boulder, CO, USA collection; ex-private Lawrence Buchanan and Dr. Enrique Von Kiguel collection; acquired 1970 to 1980

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#121661

  • Condition: Intact. Expected surface wear with pigment losses commensurate with age.

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June 8, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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