Pre-Columbian, North Coast of Peru, Chavin-Cupisnique, ca. 1200 to 800 BCE. A sizable example of a hand-built pottery stirrup vessel exhibiting a planar base, an apple-shaped body with a rounded shoulder, 4 protruding tabs, a stirrup-shaped handle, and a cylindrical spout with a gently flared rim. Incised around the body are 4 abstract avian creatures, perhaps falcons, each with a concentric circular eye opposite a tall, rectangular wing and with an incised beak emanating away from the body. The shoulder is incised with spiraling motifs created by dense stippling that is perhaps representative of stars or other celestial objects. The incised areas of each bird as well as those on the handle and spout are further embellished with rubbed cinnabar pigment that stands out against the light brown ground. Size: 7.8" L x 8.1" W x 9.9" H (19.8 cm x 20.6 cm x 25.1 cm)

The Chavin civilization is generally regarded as the Andean mother civilization - oftentimes compared to the Olmec of Mexico. Both the Chavin and the Olmec cultures created the earliest Pre-Columbian visual culture that continued to flourish until European contact in the 16th century. Using molds and modeling the forms by hand, the Chavin made numerous stirrup-spout vessels like this example. Scholars have suggested that the indigenous used them to store fermented maize beer known as "chicha."

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, 1995 to 2010; ex-private Hans Jurgen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950 to 1960s

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#171701

Spout and handle reattached to top of body, with restoration along bottom terminals. Abrasions and fading to cinnabar pigment, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations. Nice preservation to avian motif. Old inventory label beneath base.