Large / Fine Sican Silver Conical Beaker
Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican culture, ca. 800 to 1000 CE. An enormous conical beaker with a wide, gradually flaring body soldered to a concave foot, all formed from nearly pure 96% silver. The hammered sheets were shaped around a mold, their ends fused together with ancient solder, and then the components joined permanently around the corseted base. Scholars posit how vessels like this example were used in ceremonial or ritual manners, though their use in funerary contexts seems to be the most prevalent style of utilization. Lustrous patina has formed across the vessel to imbue it with a captivating presentation that is sure to accentuate any discerning collection. Size: 7.625" Diameter x 6.1" H (19.4 cm x 15.5 cm); silver quality: 96%; total weight: 230.1 grams.
Silver working is a two-thousand-year-old tradition in Peru. To the ancients of Peru, precious metals indicated special status. Both silver and gold were symbols of power and prestige worn exclusively by the elite. They signified high social status and respected political authority during life as well as after death when placed as votive offerings in tombs with the honored deceased. Silver was used to create numerous types of objects, ranging from personal ornaments to effigy vessels shaped in the likenesses of human figures, animals, and birds as well as utilitarian or funerary vessels like this example.
Cf. an example with repousse motifs at The Denver Art Museum, accession number 1969.302
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA; ex-private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Gary Drimmer collection, Chicago, Illinois, USA, before 1964
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.
#144495
Condition Report: Slight bending to overall form, with minor abrasions to body and base, a couple of small and stable hairline fissures, and light encrustations beneath foot, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina and preservation to overall form. Old inventory label beneath foot.
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Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican culture, ca. 800 to 1000 CE. An enormous conical beaker with a wide, gradually flaring body soldered to a concave foot, all formed from nearly pure 96% silver. The hammered sheets were shaped around a mold, their ends fused together with ancient solder, and then the components joined permanently around the corseted base. Scholars posit how vessels like this example were used in ceremonial or ritual manners, though their use in funerary contexts seems to be the most prevalent style of utilization. Lustrous patina has formed across the vessel to imbue it with a captivating presentation that is sure to accentuate any discerning collection. Size: 7.625" Diameter x 6.1" H (19.4 cm x 15.5 cm); silver quality: 96%; total weight: 230.1 grams.
Silver working is a two-thousand-year-old tradition in Peru. To the ancients of Peru, precious metals indicated special status. Both silver and gold were symbols of power and prestige worn exclusively by the elite. They signified high social status and respected political authority during life as well as after death when placed as votive offerings in tombs with the honored deceased. Silver was used to create numerous types of objects, ranging from personal ornaments to effigy vessels shaped in the likenesses of human figures, animals, and birds as well as utilitarian or funerary vessels like this example.
Cf. an example with repousse motifs at The Denver Art Museum, accession number 1969.302
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA; ex-private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Gary Drimmer collection, Chicago, Illinois, USA, before 1964
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.
#144495
Condition Report: Slight bending to overall form, with minor abrasions to body and base, a couple of small and stable hairline fissures, and light encrustations beneath foot, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina and preservation to overall form. Old inventory label beneath foot.
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