Viru Face-Neck Jar with Appliqued Features
Pre-Columbian, Peru, North Coast, Viru (Gallinazo), ca. 200 BCE – 500 CE. A pottery jar with a round, almost spherical body that rises to a tall, slightly flaring neck shaped into a human face. The features are minimal and modeled by hand: two raised, pierced disc eyes, a pinched nose, and a short appliqued mouth. Together they give the neck the look of a watchful little head sitting on a full, swelling torso. The surface is a warm brown-buff that shades to gray and violet where the firing clouded it. Faint reddish traces near the rim may be the remains of a painted band. Face-neck jars like this turn the whole vessel into a figure, so the container itself reads as a body. They were probably made for storing liquids and are often found in burials, though what this particular jar was used for is unknown. Size: 7.75" H x 5.5" Diam (19.7 cm H x 14.0 cm Diam). The Viru culture, also known in the literature as Gallinazo, developed in the Viru, Moche, and Santa valleys of Peru's north coast. It came before the Moche and overlapped with their early phase. Viru potters are best known for negative-resist decoration. Their wider repertoire also includes face-neck jars with simple appliqued features, an idea the Moche later took much further in their portrait vessels. Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection; ex-estate of Dr. Adolfo Gonzalez, Houston, Texas, USA, acquired 1985 to 2005 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.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. 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 # 205755
Condition
Expected weathering and surface wear as shown, but, otherwise, intact and very nice with liberal remaining pigments and detail. Rich earthen and mineral deposits throughout.
Pre-Columbian, Peru, North Coast, Viru (Gallinazo), ca. 200 BCE – 500 CE. A pottery jar with a round, almost spherical body that rises to a tall, slightly flaring neck shaped into a human face. The features are minimal and modeled by hand: two raised, pierced disc eyes, a pinched nose, and a short appliqued mouth. Together they give the neck the look of a watchful little head sitting on a full, swelling torso. The surface is a warm brown-buff that shades to gray and violet where the firing clouded it. Faint reddish traces near the rim may be the remains of a painted band. Face-neck jars like this turn the whole vessel into a figure, so the container itself reads as a body. They were probably made for storing liquids and are often found in burials, though what this particular jar was used for is unknown. Size: 7.75" H x 5.5" Diam (19.7 cm H x 14.0 cm Diam). The Viru culture, also known in the literature as Gallinazo, developed in the Viru, Moche, and Santa valleys of Peru's north coast. It came before the Moche and overlapped with their early phase. Viru potters are best known for negative-resist decoration. Their wider repertoire also includes face-neck jars with simple appliqued features, an idea the Moche later took much further in their portrait vessels. Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection; ex-estate of Dr. Adolfo Gonzalez, Houston, Texas, USA, acquired 1985 to 2005 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.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. 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 # 205755
Condition
Expected weathering and surface wear as shown, but, otherwise, intact and very nice with liberal remaining pigments and detail. Rich earthen and mineral deposits throughout.
