Pre-Columbian, southern Peru, Nazca, ca. 200 to 400 CE. Large and quite wonderful pottery stirrup vessel. In generally circular form with front molded with slightly raised shoulders and squared lower section, high relief human head of a shaman at the front end of the stirrup handle. Jar depicts a shaman who seems to be in control of his worldly and underworld environment. Five underworld mythical beasts decorate the sides along with panel of 23 fish, stars from the heavens, the shaman's hands reaching forward, his legs extended toward the back of the vessel on each side. Interestingly, the strap on his tunic encompasses a human figure on the reverse. This human seems to be playing with or manipulating a series of interconnected spheres. Rare to find an example this nice! Size: 7" W x 7" H (17.8 cm x 17.8 cm)

Provenance: Gifted by Peruvian president Manuel A. Odría Amoretti to Fred L. Hartley, who later became president of Union Oil in the 1960's, thence by descent

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#124942

Spout repaired.