Early and rare! Ancient Pre-Columbian Stone Bowl, Xiochopola, Guererro/Olmec culture, ca. 1000-500 B.C. Green speckled stone bowl with incised decorations on the outside that feature three monkeys playing ball - probably depicting the ancient ballgames so prevalent in Messo-American culture. Trees in the background. The Olmec were among the first Mesoamerican peoples to use stone in sculpture even though it had to be quarried in distant mountains. 8-1/2"D x 2-5/8"H, remarkably intact/choice... Click for details
From the Gulf coast of Mexico, ca. 900 to 1100 A.D. A very large and impressive standing figure of an obviously male dancer; of hollow, buff terracotta with remains of black bitumen decoration. Stylized figure stands nude with open mouth, wearing earrings, protruding flange to one side of body, round cuffs at shoulders and draping across the torso. Museum-quality custom mount. 27"H x 13-1/2"W, repaired from about a half dozen large pieces, affecting center, arm, neck (no restoration, all ori... Click for details
Very cool piece! Ancient Pre-Columbian Stone Mortar, Chavin de Huantar culture, ca. 1200 - 200 B.C. Green speckled stone carving in the shape of a frog depicting shamanic transformation; underneath is carved out to hold any number of hallucenogenic herbs which would be ground by a pestal-type implement. Why a tranformation? Because snakes and frogs are natural enemies, and the only way a frog would have been depicted with a snake on its back like this would be if this were actually a man/sham... Click for details
Ancient Pre-Columbian Stirrup Vessel, Moche Phase IV, North Coast, ca. 500-700 A.D. Polychrome pottery vessel depicts Ai Apec, Moche demon of the underworld in a sitting position with hands resting on knees, face with grimmace-bearing fangs, recessed eyes and heavy brows. Flanked by two serpent/snake heads, bodies extending down back. With cream slip and traces of tattooing. 8"H x 7-1/2"D x 5-3/4"W, intact/in generally excellent condition. ... Click for details
They don't come much finer than this... Ancient Pre-Columbian Handled Bowl from Mexico, Olmec culture, ca. 1100 - 550 B.C. Fine, blackware terracotta pottery figural vessel features a swan with well-modeled head and refined facial features. Neck acts as a carrying handle for the piece. Incised detailing on the body. 5-3/4"L x 3-1/8"W x 4"H, minor handle repair, else intact/excellent condition. Rare example! R ... Click for details
Exceptional form and decoration! Ancient Pre-Columbian Polychrome Stirrup Vessel from Peru, Moche V culture, ca. 550 - 700 A.D. A very complex vessel featuring octopuses, stylised frogs (fertility symbols), fields of checkerboards (in Casa Grande ceramics represents "fields of corn"), rows of beans (used as a pictographic language by the peruvian cultures, some beans are found painted with symbols), and waves (symbolizing time in motion). From El Morro de Peten, a famous Moche fineline site! ... Click for details
Ancient Pre-Columbian Rattle / Sceptre Tumi from Peru, Moche culture, ca. 100 B.C.- 600 A.D. Made of solid copper/bronze, the top rattle portion terminates in a chisel, making it a very efficient tool for human sacrifice. Blades of these chisels are considerably narrower than those of traditional crescent-shaped tumi blades, suggesting that they may have been used during specific sacrificial activities, such as cutting arterial veins for collecting blood. Likewise, the scepter itself was a sy... Click for details
Ancient Pre-Columbian Jade Disk / Pectoral from Mexico, Olmec culture, Las Bocas, ca. 1100-500 B.C. In circular form with a concave back, the front incised with jaguar motif; drilled at the top for suspension. In deep blue-green speckled stone with recessed areas filled with red pigment. One of the most prominent, distinctive, and enigmatic Olmec designs to appear in the archaeological record has been the "were-jaguar". Seen not only in figurines, the motif also may be found carved into jade... Click for details
Ancient Pre-Columbian Bronze Tumi, Inca culture, ca. 1300 - 1500 A.D. Solid bronze chisel-type ceremonial knife with two deers atop in mating stance (the dominant stag appears to really be enjoying himself, as evidenced by an almost smiling profile). The top finial portion terminates in a chisel, making it a very efficient tool for human sacrifice. Chisel-type blades are considerably narrower than those of traditional crescent-shaped tumi blades, suggesting that they may have been used during... Click for details
An exceptionally large Huari polychrome bowl from Peru, ca. 650 – 800 AD. It is 8-1/2” in diameter, 4” deep and is decorated with a pair of elaborately detailed toyos, a variety of coastal shark related to Bonnetheads. In addition, the rim is decorated with a pair of serpents writhing along the edge. A showy piece with vivid paint, great presence and a just professionally restored break.
