Pre-Columbian, Central Peru, Inca, ca. 1300 to 1500 CE. Peru had already been a center of outstanding pottery production for thousands of years when the Inca rose to power. The Moche had developed the stirrup vessel to an artform full of expression and fascinating insight to the ancient Andean peoples. The Inca followed in this tradition, and this example is a marvelous polychrome, rectangular bodied stirrup vessel with a standing bird of prey perched atop at one end of the stirrup and a tiny long tailed monkey hugging the cylindrical spout. Today Peru has more than 1800 species of birds and as one might imagine, birds played a major role in the Pre-Columbian mythological realm. As sky animals they were associated with the celestial realm - the sun and the moon as well as Venus - believed to act as messengers between humankind and its deities. Birds of prey with their soaring flight patterns, speed, keen vision, and strong talons were understood not only as metaphors for the sun but also as models for hunters and warriors. In monkeys, the ancients of the Americas witnessed physical antics, a gregarious nature, and manual dexterity that mirrored their own human behavior. Both mimic and contradiction of humankind, the monkey too was believed to mediate between peoples and the supernatural. A wonderful example of Inca figural pottery, replete with artistry and layers of symbolic meaning. Size: 4.75" W x 8.375" H (12.1 cm x 21.3 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Peter Arnovock collection

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#117358

Top end of spout missing, else excellent.