**Originally Listed At $600**

Pre-Columbian, Northern Peru, Inca, ca. 1438 to 1533 CE. An aryballos-shaped pottery vessel known as an urpu, hand-built and painted with polychrome pigments. The bell-shaped body rises from a conical base, and two strap handles protrude from the lower body. The neck supports a flared rim with two downward pointing tabs. Painted across the front half are linear motifs and bands of black and red patterns on a cream colored slip. The rounded lug below the neck was used for securing a strap through the handles. The most ornate vessels, such as this finely painted urpu, were often used as votive pieces for rituals. Size: 4.75" W x 7.75" H (12.1 cm x 19.7 cm); 8" H (20.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Urpus were used for transporting and storing liquids such as chicha (fermented corn beer) and the conical base enabled the vessel to be pushed into sand or soft earth to stand upright. When alpacas were overburdened, human porters carried the urpu vessels on their backs. The tabs below the rim secured a cloth or skin cover over the mouth to prevent spillage. The rounded lug would also secure a strap that ran through the handles and tied the vessel to the porter’s back. A beautiful urpu such as this example may have served as a votive vessel for an elite member of society or as a grave good!

Provenance: ex-private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection, acquired October 1, 2014; ex-Arte Primitivo; ex-private West Virginia, USA collection, acquired late 1960s to early 1970s

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#161220

Some fading and chipping of painted pigments. Minor surface abrasions and nicks to handles. Nice burnishing marks. Otherwise intact and very good!