Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Viru culture, ca. 200 BCE to 200 CE. A fine example of a hand-built and highly burnished pottery vessel of a spherical form resting atop a flared foot. Enveloped in coral and citrine pigments, the vessel presents an abstract anthropomorphic head peeking from the front with a heart-shaped face, annular eyes, perforated nostrils, and protruding, pursed lips, all beneath a rounded cranium. Projecting from behind the head is a slender strap handle and emanating from the opposite handle terminal is a tapered conical spout. Faint remains of black linear motifs are visible on the spout as well as below it on the body and allude to how this vessel was elaborately decorated at one time. Size: 5.76" Diameter x 6.4" H (14.6 cm x 16.3 cm)

Provenance: private Van Buskirk collection, Tucson, Arizona, USA, before 2000

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#168337

Minor abrasions, pitting, and nicks to spout, body, handle, head, and foot, with fading to most pigment, and 1 petite spall to proper left side of head, otherwise intact and excellent. Great surface smoothness throughout.