Chavin Incised Bone Snuff Tube with Interlocking Glyph MotifsPre-Columbian, Peru,...
Chavin Incised Bone Snuff Tube with Interlocking Glyph MotifsPre-Columbian, Peru, Chavin, ca. 1200–500 BCE. A long hollow bone tube, gently curved along the shaft and flaring to an open mouth, its surface covered in finely incised interlocking glyphic scrollwork of stepped frets, hooks, and eye forms in the manner of the Raimondi Stele at Chavin de Huantar. A dark organic mass, likely hardened resin, is applied as a swelling collar near the upper end, probably serving as a grip for the fingers. Tubes of this type were used to inhale powdered psychoactive snuff, most often vilca or related tryptamine preparations, in visionary rites conducted by ritual specialists. The mellow tan patina and the confident, unbroken linear design mark it as a prestige implement rather than a utilitarian one. Mounted on a custom metal display base. Size: 12" L x 2" W (30.5 cm L x 5.1 cm W).
The Chavin horizon, centered on the highland ceremonial complex of Chavin de Huantar in the Peruvian Andes, produced the earliest pan-regional art style in South America. Its visual language, dense with interlocking contour lines, kennings, and feline, raptorial, and serpentine substitutions, is best known from the incised Raimondi Stele and the Tello Obelisk, where a single figure reads differently depending on the orientation of the stone.
Snuff paraphernalia sits at the center of that system. Excavated tubes, trays, spoons, and mortars, together with the sculpted tenon heads of the Circular Plaza showing mucus streaming from distended nostrils, indicate that the priesthood entered altered states through inhaled preparations of Anadenanthera colubrina (vilca) and infusions of the San Pedro cactus. The transformation imagery carved on this class of object was not decoration alone but the depicted content of the vision itself, the human celebrant becoming jaguar.
Provenance: Private American collection. Ex. Anton Roeckl collection, Munich, Germany. Prior to 1980.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #73160A minor rim flake, otherwise intact, Excellent condition.
Chavin Incised Bone Snuff Tube with Interlocking Glyph MotifsPre-Columbian, Peru, Chavin, ca. 1200–500 BCE. A long hollow bone tube, gently curved along the shaft and flaring to an open mouth, its surface covered in finely incised interlocking glyphic scrollwork of stepped frets, hooks, and eye forms in the manner of the Raimondi Stele at Chavin de Huantar. A dark organic mass, likely hardened resin, is applied as a swelling collar near the upper end, probably serving as a grip for the fingers. Tubes of this type were used to inhale powdered psychoactive snuff, most often vilca or related tryptamine preparations, in visionary rites conducted by ritual specialists. The mellow tan patina and the confident, unbroken linear design mark it as a prestige implement rather than a utilitarian one. Mounted on a custom metal display base. Size: 12" L x 2" W (30.5 cm L x 5.1 cm W).
The Chavin horizon, centered on the highland ceremonial complex of Chavin de Huantar in the Peruvian Andes, produced the earliest pan-regional art style in South America. Its visual language, dense with interlocking contour lines, kennings, and feline, raptorial, and serpentine substitutions, is best known from the incised Raimondi Stele and the Tello Obelisk, where a single figure reads differently depending on the orientation of the stone.
Snuff paraphernalia sits at the center of that system. Excavated tubes, trays, spoons, and mortars, together with the sculpted tenon heads of the Circular Plaza showing mucus streaming from distended nostrils, indicate that the priesthood entered altered states through inhaled preparations of Anadenanthera colubrina (vilca) and infusions of the San Pedro cactus. The transformation imagery carved on this class of object was not decoration alone but the depicted content of the vision itself, the human celebrant becoming jaguar.
Provenance: Private American collection. Ex. Anton Roeckl collection, Munich, Germany. Prior to 1980.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #73160A minor rim flake, otherwise intact, Excellent condition.
