Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca culture, ca. 100 to 300 CE. A fabulous canteen of an enormous size that is hand-built from pottery with highly burnished surfaces and intricate decorations painted across the upper body. The canteen exhibits a compressed spherical form with a vertically carinated exterior and has a rounded shoulder surmounted by a conical spout with a flared rim. Presented in hues of maroon, marigold, ash gray, jet black, coral, tan, and crimson atop a cream ground, the upper body presents a trio of severed, left-facing trophy heads in stunningly detailed forms. Each head boasts wild, serpentine coiffures above gaping mouths, protruding tongues, upward-cast eyes, and zigzagging necklines signifying being violently detached from their original body. Rectangular bars and finely detailed foliage decorate the otherwise empty surrounding spaces to create a wondrous and macabre scene of honor and prestige among the Nazca; the lower half of the body is unadorned. An excellent example of exquisite Nazca artistry! Size: 11.375" W x 13.5" H (28.9 cm x 34.3 cm)

Display stand shown in photos is for photography purposes only.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA, donated to Ashland University between July 1994 to December 1998

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#166057

Repaired from multiple pieces, with restoration along some break lines, and resurfacing with overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and surface wear to exterior pigment, with nicks, pitting, and a few small spalls to body and rim. Great size and nice preservation of trophy head motif along upper body. TL drill holes along base and exterior of rim.