Description:

Pre-Columbian, Southern Colombia to Northern Ecuador, Narino culture, ca. 750 to 1250 CE. A striking pair of Narino pottery pedestal bowls, each adorned on the interior with lively animal imagery created through the negative resist painting technique, a hallmark of Narino artistry. The larger bowl presents four deer or stags arranged in a circular pattern, their elongated limbs and antlers forming a rhythmic procession around the basin. The more petite bowl features four monkeys, their curling tails and stylized bodies depicted in bold silhouette, adding a sense of movement and playfulness. Both vessels stand on tall pedestal bases, a signature form within Narino ceramic tradition that elevates the bowls and emphasizes their visual impact. The interiors are framed with additional painted motifs - zigzags, curving lines, and concentric borders - which provide a strong geometric balance to the figural decoration. Size of larger (bowl with deer): 7.9" Diameter x 4.6" H (20.1 cm x 11.7 cm)

The negative resist technique, whereby designs are preserved by shielding areas from pigment before firing, lends the surfaces their distinctive contrast of red and cream tones. Functional yet visually commanding, these bowls would have served in ritual or feasting contexts, their painted interiors transforming ordinary vessels into dynamic works of painted ceramic art.

Provenance: ex-private Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA collection

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.

#196466

  • Condition: Both have some stable hairline fissures, as well as abrasions and weathering commensurate with age, but are otherwise intact and in good condition with nice remaining decoration.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

October 17, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000