Lot 7A
Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca culture, ca. 100 CE to 700 CE. A pottery vessel in the form of a stylized trophy head, its surface animated with zoomorphic imagery - serpents and centipede-like creatures crawling across the polychrome face. The rounded form gently tapers toward a rim, with the nose sculpted in relief as the sole protruding feature. The rest of the vessel is finely burnished, with vivid motifs outlined in black over hues of cream, orange, and red. In Nazca ritual practice, decapitated human heads were used in ceremonial contexts, symbolizing power, fertility, or spiritual transformation. Ceramic effigies like this one, often life-sized, served as enduring substitutes for real heads - immortalizing their symbolic potency without the problem of decay. Size: 7" Diameter x 8" H (17.8 cm x 20.3 cm)
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#194347
- Condition: Repaired from several large pieces with visible hairline breaks radiating across the surface. Discoloration and fading, but the pigments and motifs are well preserved.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| 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 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |