Pre-Columbian, Colombia and Ecuador, La Tolita (sometimes Tumaco), ca. 600 BCE to 200 CE. A hand-built pottery effigy grater, or rollador, in the shape of a zoomorphic creature with a corrugated surface. The body is rectangular with low relief triangular borders of fines or spikes. The central portion of the body alternates between 2 types of abrasive squares: inset with small sharp stone chips or impressed with a series of squares to create corrugation. The head in profile is stylized and looks reptilian- perhaps a crocodile or caiman, and a short snout, incised teeth, and a circular eye. The tail end is absent, but just before this area both outer edges are notched for securing the grater to a cord for suspension. Grater plates like this example were used to scrape the scales off fish prior to cooking, and the wide surface meant that even large fish could be quickly descaled. Size: 7.125" L x 0.25" W x 3.75" H (18.1 cm x 0.6 cm x 9.5 cm); 5" H (12.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Joseph John Batelka collection, acquired in the 1970s

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#170834

Loss to tail end. Rest of body is intact and very good. A few losses to some stone inlays. No repairs or restoration. Great facial details!