Pre-Columbian, Peru, Inca Empire, ca. 1470 to 1532 CE. A hand-carved quartz canopa exhibiting a characteristic camelid form and an incredibly smooth, polished surface. The vessel presents with a corpulent body, a perky tail, and a deep cavity drilled into the back. The raised head features a thick snout with an incised mouth and nostrils, perky ears, and a fleecy dewlap that cascades down in 5 gradually lengthening waves. Canopas like this example were filled with substances like coca leaves, animal fat, or maize before being buried near the camelids' corrals as an offering to the gods for protection. The use of quartz for this example perhaps contains some symbolic significance or represents a particular favorite animal of the carver. Size: 5.375" W x 2.3" H (13.7 cm x 5.8 cm); 3.9" H (9.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1987.394.690

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private New York, USA collection, from 1966, acquired in July, 2000

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#165122

Softening to some facial details, with light encrustations within some recessed details and cavity on back, light abrasions, and a couple of stable hairline fissures, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice earthen deposits and great preservation to overall form. Old inventory label beneath base.