Pre-Columbian, Ecuador/Columbia border, Narino culture, ca. 800 to 1500 CE. A breathtaking bowl with a graceful form supported by a pedestal base, as well as pristine representations of five stylized eight-pointed stars with circular red centers and cream-colored points on a chocolate brown ground achieved via a meticulous stencil technique. The rim and exterior of the bowl are painted with the same red slip as the star's centers. These stellar sky symbols represented Venus, the star of war. The rising of Venus governed the timing of ritual warfare and the taking of human sacrificial victims for the Narino culture. A wonderful ceramic work exhibiting fine technique and rich iconography! Size: 6.75" W x 3" H (17.1 cm x 7.6 cm).

Provenance: private Aspen, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Moomaw collection, Englewood, Colorado, USA, acquired from South America in 1980

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#127269

Tiny, nearly invisible nick on outer wall. Very minor wear to painted surface. Intact and near choice condition.