Pre-Columbian, Bolivia, possibly Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku), ca. 400 to 1100 CE. A fascinating ceramic bowl with a wide, gently flared body, a flat base, and a complex iconography. Standing in the center of the bowl is a tall, three dimensional llama (or alpaca), whose body rises above the rim of the bowl. In relief on the exterior of the body is a jowly human face and two serpents who flank it. The face is decorated with a profusion of incised lines, creating a labyrinthine pattern beneath its bulging eyes. The rest of the body of the vessel is painted with geometric motifs. Size: 5.6" W x 4.15" H (14.2 cm x 10.5 cm)

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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#140891

One side has been expertly repaired and restored. This is almost impossible to discern. Light deposits on surface, with wear commensurate with age.