Large Pre-Columbian Ecuadorian Roller Stamp

**Originally Listed At $400**

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, La Tolita (Tumaco) to Manteno culture, ca. 600 BCE to 15th century CE. A pottery cylinder roller stamp both with geometric motifs or glyphs around the face and a perforation through the center - likely for attaching a stick handle when in use. The abstract designs are deeply incised, formed by rolling a piece of clay into a cylinder shape then incising with a stick or stylus before firing. The patterns could be rolled onto a surface using ink or liquid pigments to create a continuous pattern. It is presumed that this type of stamp was used on skin, cloth, wood, or hide since no pottery has so far been discovered with roller impressions that are usually found on this type of stamp. Size: 2.5" L x 1.5" W (6.4 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: private Redwood City, California, USA collection, before 2000

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#183510
Condition Report: Repaired, small projecting piece on one end is reattached with adhesive. Stable pressure fissures radiating from this area. Some chips and nicks to other high pointed areas, but otherwise good condition. Mineral and earthen deposits on the interior.