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LOT 2413
Pre-Columbian Moche Anthropomorphic Vessel
CIRCA 5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
8 in. (550 grams, 20.2 cm high).
Hollow-formed bulbous vessel with burnished finish, seated or crouching male figure with bent legs and arms across his waist, straps to the chin securing a flat-topped cap with rectangular flap to the rear decorated with a ropework saltire; the face with aquiline nose, lentoid eyes and small curved mouth; between the hands, a small bird with discoid eye and wings partly extended; funicular spout to the top; marked 'OTX' to the underside. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of a Norfolk, UK, gentleman, 1990s.
FootnotesExamples of birds are relatively common across the spectrum of Moche pottery as are other animals depicting battle or hunting scenes.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Prehispanic Olmec Jade Mask
900-400 B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
A striated green stone head or mask carved in the half-round with semi-naturalistic facial features, in the Olmec style; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 557 grams total, 17.6 cm including stand
with Throckmorton Fine Arts, 1990s. Private collection, England.
This fine maskette displays the classical features of Olmec Art. The eyes are feline and mouth slightly open, representing the snarl of the Jaguar, a revered animal to the ancient Olmec. This face likely depicts the ideal Olmec ruler rather than portrait of an individual and would have been made for important ceremony or individual of high rank. -
Large Pre-Columbian Colima Seated Shaman Vessel
Mexico, Protoclassic Period, circa 100 B.C.-250 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Red ware, hollow-formed and modelled in the round, seated figure with horn to the brow and pierced ears, incised decoration to the midriff, pouring spout to rear of head. 1.9 kg, 36.5 cm
with Bonhams, London, 24 May 2016, lot 21. Property of a Gloucestershire, UK, gentleman.
Holding a throwing stone in one hand and facing an unseen danger to his left as was tradition. This seated figure can be identified as a tomb guardian with the horn on his head marking him as a shaman or with magical powers. His purpose was to serve and protect the deceased in the afterlife. The Colima culture produced the greatest variety of sculpture across ancient West Mexico. -
Pre-Columbian Stone Taino Transforming Zemi Figure
Circa 1500 A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £910
Large carved hardstone model of a crouching figure with elbows resting on the knees and hands supporting the chin; the head modelled as a skull with exposed teeth, drilled eye-sockets and triangular nasal cavity; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 6 kg total, 34.3 cm high including stand
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
The population of the Taino people of the Dominican Republic and surrounding Caribbean islands may have been as high as 2 million by the 15th century. The Zemi, a spiritual figure forms a major part of their existing legacy and examples exist in many sizes including depictions in wood and stone.
