**Originally Listed At $2250**

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, Protoclassic Period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. This brilliant vermillion pottery vessel assumes form of a wide, voluminous squash with a gadrooned body that is stylistically segmented with smooth, fine vertical ribbing, features a boldly flaring spout, and is supported by three legs in the form of parrots, birds prized for their feathers among the ancients of America. Each avian form is defined with incised and pierced ovoid eyes, curved beaks, and incised and modeled wings upon a plump body that resolves to a tapered tail. The slipped and burnished surface is truly magnificent. Moreover, art imitates life in this ceramic vessel! After all, the indigenous of Mexico used hollowed gourds for storing and serving food and drink. Furthermore, the iconography of piece is quite poignant as squashes and parrots were both symbols of fertility and abundance. Painted red surface with areas of scattered root marks and numerous manganese blooms. Larger and finer than most! Size: 13.5" W x 9.25" H (34.3 cm x 23.5 cm)

In the Pre-Columbian world, birds were highly symbolic and favorite iconographical subjects in art. As sky animals, they were associated with the celestial sun and moon and were believed to act as messengers between humankind and their deities. Parrots were and continue to be revered by the ancients of the Americas. Their brilliant plumage and ability to fly high above the tree line made them ideal incarnations of the sky deities, thought to be endowed with supernatural powers of celestial origin.

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: private New York, USA collection from 1966; ex-Sotheby's, November 20, 1995, Lot 318, Illustrated

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.

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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.

#165130

Rim repaired from about 5 pieces, with each leg reattached, but body appears to be intact. Nice root marks and manganese blooms.