Huari Bone Snuff Tray w/ Transformation Jaguar & Shaman
Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca to Huari transition period, ca. 500 to 700 CE. A beautiful bone tray, likely made from llama bone, for preparing hallucinogenic drugs, its upper end decorated with incised and stippled with a human and zoomorph! A fierce jaguar - the teeth bared, flared nostrils, concentric circle eyes, and perked ears - crouches and grasps a man's head with its front paws. The man's head is stippled with ritualistic tattoos or scars, and the body of the jaguar exhibits dotted and linear incisions throughout to create a checkered coat. The cylindrical bone is hollowed out to create the area for preparing hallucinogenic drugs to be used in rituals; the end tip and verso are decorated with additional stippling and linear strokes. The motif may be interpreted as a shaman transforming into a jaguar, however another mythical being known as a "moon animal" is sometimes depicted in a similar pose holding a trophy head! This is an enigmatic ritualistic piece. Size: 7.5" L x 1.35" W (19 cm x 3.4 cm); 9" H (22.9 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired in May 2018; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private California, USA collection, acquired from Pat Woolsey, acquired mid-1960s to early 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167850
Condition Report: Stable fissures and chips to bone. Old inventory label on interior. Intact and choice. Amazing details and nice areas of dark patina.
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Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca to Huari transition period, ca. 500 to 700 CE. A beautiful bone tray, likely made from llama bone, for preparing hallucinogenic drugs, its upper end decorated with incised and stippled with a human and zoomorph! A fierce jaguar - the teeth bared, flared nostrils, concentric circle eyes, and perked ears - crouches and grasps a man's head with its front paws. The man's head is stippled with ritualistic tattoos or scars, and the body of the jaguar exhibits dotted and linear incisions throughout to create a checkered coat. The cylindrical bone is hollowed out to create the area for preparing hallucinogenic drugs to be used in rituals; the end tip and verso are decorated with additional stippling and linear strokes. The motif may be interpreted as a shaman transforming into a jaguar, however another mythical being known as a "moon animal" is sometimes depicted in a similar pose holding a trophy head! This is an enigmatic ritualistic piece. Size: 7.5" L x 1.35" W (19 cm x 3.4 cm); 9" H (22.9 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired in May 2018; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private California, USA collection, acquired from Pat Woolsey, acquired mid-1960s to early 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167850
Condition Report: Stable fissures and chips to bone. Old inventory label on interior. Intact and choice. Amazing details and nice areas of dark patina.
Estimate
Time, Location
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