Lot 138A
Rare Vicus Ring-Body Zoomorphic Whistle Vessel
Rare Vicus Ring-Body Zoomorphic Whistle Vessel
Starting Bid: $450
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Pre-Columbian, Northern Peru, Vicus culture, ca. 200 BCE to 300 CE. A rare ring-bodied whistle that looks ready to sing - a spirited zoomorph whose body forms a continuous torus, topped by a bridge handle and a projecting spout. Hand-built in earthenware with a warm red slip and traces of black resist-painted bands, the vessel takes the lively shape of an animal with a pointed snout and alert rounded ears. Small drilled tone-holes pierce the cheeks and neck, while a tall cylindrical chimney rises behind the handle; together these features would have produced a bright, reedy note when air passed through the internal cavity. Subtle geometric patterns encircle the ring, their repeating labyrinths echoing Vicus taste for rhythmic, abstract design. Together form and function make a compact masterwork of Vicus ceramic art - tactile, acoustic, and boldly imaginative. Size: 8.1" L x 7.3" W x 5.5" H (20.6 cm x 18.5 cm x 14 cm)
Bridge-handle and ring-form bodies are hallmarks of north coast ingenuity, yet this closed-loop silhouette - married to a fully modeled head - is an uncommon marriage of sculpture and sound. Whistles of this type likely served in ritual, procession, or graveside ceremony, where breath, sound, and motion animated the vessel and the animal spirit it represents. The weathered surfaces, softened by age, give the piece a steady dignity, as if the music still lingers in the clay.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-Brunk Auction, Asheville, North Carolina, USA; ex-DC Forbes Collection, acquired June 15, 1988; ex-New World Antiquities, San Francisco, California, USA
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#197628
- Condition: Still functions as a whistle. Professionally repaired and restored with repainting over break lines; all expertly done and difficult to notice. Weathering to surface commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent presentation with good remaining pigments and detail. Scattered earthen deposits as shown.
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| 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 |