Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chongoyape, Tembladera phase, ca. 1200 to 1000 BCE. A fabulous mold-formed brownware pottery bottle with a flat base, a bulbous ovoid body, a wide stirrup-shaped handle, and a cylindrical spout with an everted lip. The body of the highly-burnished vessel is decorated on each side with a deeply incised supernatural bird/feline. The imagery is one of the most classic of all Chavin forms showing a bird of prey, possibly a harpy eagle or condor with large curved beak with feline-like fangs, wings outstretched with claws below as well as stretched out behind. The beautiful design was enhanced with cinnabar, still present and vibrant. Size: 6" W x 10" H (15.2 cm x 25.4 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 corn beer or "chicha".

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-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#173345

Intact with very small chip to spout, 2 small holes where TL test was conducted.