Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca, ca. 2nd to 4th century CE. A beautiful, hand-built polychrome vessel with a rounded base, gently rounded walls, and a pair of cylindrical spouts with a short stirrup-shaped handle arching in between. A fine form, hand painted in hues of red, brown, beige, black, and white. The fact that we see a pair of underworld deities is indicative of the concept of dualism that is so deeply rooted in Andean cultural traditions. Pairs of entities reflect the fundamental understanding of the continuum between life and death, male and female, sun and moon, left and right, day and night, peaks and valleys . . . these central complementary ideologies that determined the religious beliefs and practices of Andean societies. Here we have an exquisite example, replete with superb Nazca artistry and iconography. Size: 7" W x 6.5" H (17.8 cm x 16.5 cm)

In addition to these two deities we see six human trophy heads. The taking and displaying of heads from battle was a common activity among ancient Peruvian cultures, and might seem macabre to us, but represented strength and fighting prowess. The heads were often worn on belts as ornamentation or displayed in the homes of the victor.

Provenance: ex Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010; ex Haig's of Rochester, Rochester, Michigan, USA

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#163931

Repaired from about a dozen pieces with repaint over the repairs.