Rare and striking Nazca polychrome stirrup vessel, shaped like a disembodied head, features eyes and a mouth that are subtly raised with thin slits suggesting they are closed. The nose appears narrow and without flesh. Lines around the mouth and beneath the eyes might indicate they are sewn shut. The face is heart-shaped, with the rest of the head painted black, including a small raised area at the back representing a hairstyle. Twin spouts extend from either side of the narrow, flat stirrup handle atop the head. It remains in exceptional condition with vibrant pigment. Dimensions: 5.65" wide x 5.8" high . Pre-Columbian Peru, Nazca culture, circa100 BCE to 800 CE.
20th-century archaeological findings reveal that the stylized trophy head, prevalent in Nazca art, was rooted in actual rituals. Over a hundred mummified trophy heads have been unearthed from Nazca sites, nearly all with a puncture in the front of the skull for hanging. Scholars who specialize in this culture debate the significance of these heads—were they warriors killed in battle, symbols of power by capturing an enemy's body part, or memorials for deceased relatives? This artwork serves as a fascinating glimpse into this enigmatic culture.
Provenance: Ex. European Collection, Ex. private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s '
July 2024. Ex. Daniel Robinson, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, sold to Ex S. Cote-Gaudet
Similar piece found in the Art Institute of Chicago ;I image attached .
