Description:

Pre-Columbian, Nazca, Peru, South Coast, Early Intermediate, ca. 1-700 CE. Nazca pottery jar with intricate composition including a standing perhaps dancing figure with upraised arms, fingers pointing skyward, an overall frontal position, and outward facing feet. Quite pantomime-like and dramatic! His facial visage is abstractly rendered, composed of diamond shaped eyes, trapezoidal cheek ornaments, stylized eyebrows, and a lozenge-shaped mouth. He wears a headband decorated with a black and white step motif, a stylized bra-like pectoral, and a loin cloth with a heart shaped pattern that we see mirrored on the textile that covers the backside of the jar. Ears are perforated for the suspension of decorative ornaments. To either side are ducks or some other variety of sea birds - six on each side. For the Nasca the sea was a rich source of food and mythology. In contrast to Moche ceramics which emphasize modeling and painting with a reduced palette, Nazca ceramics expanded their color range and utilized a flatter rendering of the form. Here the artisan incorporated varying hues of red, orange, black, white, cream, and grey applied with utmost skill and dexterity. 5-1/2" H (11.25cm)

Private Boston, MA collection, Cobbs Auctioneers, New Hampshire, Private New England collection.

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  • Provenance: Private Boston, MA collection; Cobbs Auctioneers, New Hampshire; Private New England collection, acquired in the 1970s.
  • Condition: Repaired from approximately a half dozen pieces with repainting over the break lines. Some surface wear and loss. Overall good condition.

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December 5, 2014 8:00 AM MST
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