Pre-Columbian, Central America, Panama, Gran Cocle culture, ca. 800 to 1000 CE. A lovely hand-built pottery jar with a rounded but stable base and a gently carinated body with a thick rim and a wide opening, decorated with abstract motifs and an applied head. The surface is slipped in a red and orange hue, the shoulder painted with black spiraling and angular shapes with solid bands of purple- the purple indicative of the Macaracas style. At the front below the rim is a projecting zoomorphic head with pointed ears, and bared teeth as a representation of a highly stylized jaguar, and opposite is a vertical spout aperture with a small opening in the tip. Size: 9" Diameter x 6.5" H (22.9 cm x 16.5 cm)

In the Gran Cocle Pre-Columbian kingdom, geometric design elements such as these were imbued with powerful symbolism, although the cognitive intent of these has largely been forgotten or is no longer known. Some researchers believe that the brightly colored Cocle ceramics refer to the contemporary belief system, which seems to have revolved a mythic "Rainbow Serpent" who was believed to be the original designer of these motifs.

Provenance: private Wabasha, Minnesota, USA collection; ex-Nancy and Dr. E.F. Simpson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from 1970 to 2000

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#171909

Repaired and restored. Stable break line on tubular spout and restoration to animal, head, and rim. Great preservation to motifs and root marks on interior.