Pre-Columbian | Ancient | Ethnographic

Large 17th C. Tibetan Gilt Copper Tara w/ Inset Stones

Late Cretaceous Mosasaur Fossil Skull with Pterygoid Teeth

Chinese Han Dynasty Green Glazed Pottery Dog

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Louisville, CO, United States

Auction Details

Pre-Columbian | Ancient | Ethnographic

Artemis Fine Arts

You have shipping options - we offer affordable / convenient in-house shipping! Journey through history with a curated selection from around the world featuring Pre-Columbian, Native American, and Tribal artifacts, rare fossils, and timeless treasures from Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Near East, and Asia. Complemented by fine and visual art, each piece is legally acquired and approved for sale, ensuring authenticity and peace of mind.

Auction Curators:

Bob DodgeOwner/Executive Director, Antiquities & Pre-Columbian Art

Sydelle DienstfreyPhD. Art History, Director, Fine & Visual Arts

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Olmec Las Bocas Tecomate Black Smoke-Glazed Band, TL Tested: Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Las Bocas region, Olmec culture, ca. 12th to 9th century BCE. This rare pottery vessel, known as a tecomate, features a stunning orb shape with a narrow circular opening,

0001: Olmec Las Bocas Tecomate Black Smoke-Glazed Band, TL TestedEst. $7,500-$11,250Lot Passed

Olmec Pottery Head of a Baby, ex-Sotheby's: Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Olmec culture, ca. 1200 to 900 BCE. A finely sculpted Olmec pottery head of a baby, a type of effigy that has long intrigued scholars for its symbolic and spiritual

0001B: Olmec Pottery Head of a Baby, ex-Sotheby'sEst. $5,000-$7,500Lot Passed

Rare Tlatilco Cream-Slipped Tecomate Bowl: Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Tlatilco culture, ca. 1200 to 800 BCE. This elegant cream-colored ceramic bowl is a strikingly rare example of early Mesoamerican ceramic artistry, known as a tecomate

0002: Rare Tlatilco Cream-Slipped Tecomate BowlEst. $6,000-$9,000Lot Passed

Sold

Mezcala Stone Temple Model w/ Figure, ex-Sotheby's: Pre-Columbian, Guerrero, Mexico, Mezcala culture, ca. 500 BCE to 100 BCE. A rare and evocative Mezcala carved stone temple model, fashioned from grey stone into a schematic architectural form with a

0003: Mezcala Stone Temple Model w/ Figure, ex-Sotheby'sEst. $3,000-$4,500

Sold

Nazca Polychrome Keros - Trophy Heads, Flying Figures (TL'd): Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca culture, ca. 200 to 600 CE. A pair of finely painted polychrome pottery keros (drinking beakers), each embodying the Nazca mastery of bold line, color, and

0004: Nazca Polychrome Keros - Trophy Heads, Flying Figures (TL'd)Est. $3,500-$5,500

Sold

Chavin Pottery Cylinder Vessel, ex-Arte Primitivo: Pre-Columbian, Northern Peru, Chavin, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A rare blackware cylinder vessel, its tall, straight walls decorated with sweeping diagonal bands of incised hatching that spiral around the

0004A: Chavin Pottery Cylinder Vessel, ex-Arte PrimitivoEst. $1,000-$1,500

Complete Nazca Child's Textile Tunic: Pre-Columbian, southern Peru, Nazca, ca. 200 to 400 CE. Fine woven Nazca shirt (tunic) of camelid fibers in shades of brown, red and gold. Mostly comprised geometric patterns of arrows , temples, and

0004B: Complete Nazca Child's Textile TunicEst. $1,500-$2,500Lot Passed

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Nazca Silver Bead Necklace w/ Ritual Tweezer Pendant: Southern Peru, Nazca, ca. 100 to 500 CE. Fascinating necklace made of dozens of hollow, almost pure silver, beads varying in size and shape strung along with a single almost pure silver tweezer.

0005: Nazca Silver Bead Necklace w/ Ritual Tweezer PendantEst. $900-$1,500

Nazca Polychrome Bowl + Kero - TL Tested: Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca culture, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A pair of pottery vessels, each with polychrome decoration. The flared kero-form cup presents vertical striations of red,

0005A: Nazca Polychrome Bowl + Kero - TL TestedEst. $1,500-$2,500Lot Passed

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Nazca Cream-Slipped Jar w/ Painted Fish Motifs - TL'd: Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca, ca. 200 BCE to 300 CE. A cream-slipped terracotta jar of elegant flared form, decorated with three painted fish motifs rendered in bold black pigment around

0005B: Nazca Cream-Slipped Jar w/ Painted Fish Motifs - TL'dEst. $1,000-$1,500

Nazca Camelid Fiber Ceremonial Band with Interlocking Scroll Motifs: South Coast Peru, Nazca culture, Early Intermediate Period, ca. 200-600 CE. Camelid fiber; tapestry weave with applied/extended fringe. A narrow ceremonial band composed of three joined rectangular

0005C: Nazca Camelid Fiber Ceremonial Band with Interlocking Scroll MotifsEst. $800-$1,500Lot Passed

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Nazca Necklace w/ Gold-Silver Beads, Mother of Pearl, and Silver Tweezer: Southcoast of Peru, Nazca culture, ca. 200 to 400 CE. Remarkable necklace comprised of alternating beads of low karat gold (beads test as 15% gold, 80% silver and 5% copper) along with mother of

0006: Nazca Necklace w/ Gold-Silver Beads, Mother of Pearl, and Silver TweezerEst. $900-$1,500

Sold

Moche Stirrup + Chimu Portrait, ex-Sotheby's & Hindman's: Pre-Columbian, Peru, Moche, ca. 200 to 600 CE; Chimu, ca. 900 to 1400 CE. A compelling pair of ancient Peruvian pottery vessels, each a distinct expression of Moche and Chimu artistry. The first is a

0007: Moche Stirrup + Chimu Portrait, ex-Sotheby's & Hindman'sEst. $1,200-$1,800

Sold

Inca Blackware Aryballos w/ Relief Amaru Serpent, ex-Museum: Pre-Columbian, Peru, Inca, ca. 15th to early 16th century CE. A commanding blackware aryballos (arybalo) distinguished by its lustrous burnished surface and the presence of a sinuous relief serpent

0007A: Inca Blackware Aryballos w/ Relief Amaru Serpent, ex-MuseumEst. $800-$1,500

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Sican Stirrup Vessel w/ Janiform Elite Portraits, ex-Museum: Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican (Lambayeque) culture, ca. 800 to 1350 CE. A finely modeled stirrup-spout vessel of warm terracotta hues, its rounded body rising to a tall cylindrical spout set

0007B: Sican Stirrup Vessel w/ Janiform Elite Portraits, ex-MuseumEst. $800-$1,500

Vicus Head-Form Jar + Nazca Polychrome Bowl (TL tested): Pre-Columbian, Peru, Vicus culture, ca. 100 BCE to 400 CE; Nazca culture, ca. 200 BCE to 600 CE. A striking pair of pottery vessels from two of Peru's most distinctive ancient cultures. The first, a

0008: Vicus Head-Form Jar + Nazca Polychrome Bowl (TL tested)Est. $1,500-$2,500Lot Passed

Sold

Huari Jaguar-Head Effigy Pottery Vessel, ex-Museum: Pre-Columbian, Peru, Central Andes, Huari (Wari) culture, ca. 600 to 1000 CE. A striking Huari terracotta vessel modeled in the form of a jaguar head, the body globular with a tall cylindrical neck

0008A: Huari Jaguar-Head Effigy Pottery Vessel, ex-MuseumEst. $1,000-$1,800

Sold

Peruvian Tiwanaku Effigy Vessel Ritual Libation Form: Pre-Columbian, Bolivia and Peru, Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) culture, ca. 500 to 1000 CE. A hand-built and painted pottery figural vessel depicting a stylized human torso, its flaring shoulders and

0008B: Peruvian Tiwanaku Effigy Vessel Ritual Libation FormEst. $1,200-$1,800

Pre-Columbian Huari Llama Bone Quena Flutes (pr): Pre-Columbian, Central Andes, Huari (Wari) culture, ca. 600 to 1000 CE. A pair of ancient Huari flutes, known as quenas, each carefully carved from llama bone. Both instruments are pierced with four

0008C: Pre-Columbian Huari Llama Bone Quena Flutes (pr)Est. $600-$900Lot Passed

Paracas Blackware Vessel, Painted Detail TL'd: Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Paracas culture, ca. 600 to 200 BCE. A handsome pottery jar exemplifying the refined ceramic tradition of the Paracas culture, known for its dark, polished blackware

0008D: Paracas Blackware Vessel, Painted Detail TL'dEst. $2,500-$3,500Lot Passed

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Large Chimu Cotton Textile Brocaded Feline and Fish Motifs: Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chimu Culture, ca. 13th to 15th century CE. A large cotton plain-weave cloth adorned with bold brocaded motifs woven in dyed alpaca wool. The design features abstract

0009: Large Chimu Cotton Textile Brocaded Feline and Fish MotifsEst. $1,500-$2,250

Chimu Wooden Mirror Disc w/ Pigment Traces, ex-Museum: Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chimu, ca. 1100 to 1470 CE. A painted wood disc, originally fashioned as the backing for a mirror, its surface now fully enveloped in the remains of white pigment.

0009A: Chimu Wooden Mirror Disc w/ Pigment Traces, ex-MuseumEst. $500-$800Lot Passed

Sold

Chimu Blackware Stirrup Vessel w/ Coati Effigy, ex-Museum: Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chimu culture, ca. 1100 to 1470 CE. A Chimu blackware effigy stirrup vessel of globular form, surmounted by the figure of a coati in raised relief. The long-nosed

0010A: Chimu Blackware Stirrup Vessel w/ Coati Effigy, ex-MuseumEst. $800-$1,500

Sold

Chimu Blackware Erotic Stirrup Vessel & Portrait Jar: Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chimu culture, ca. 900 to 1470 CE. A compelling pair of Chimu blackware vessels, each exemplifying the refined craftsmanship and symbolic imagination of Peru's northern coast.

0010B: Chimu Blackware Erotic Stirrup Vessel & Portrait JarEst. $800-$1,500

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Auction Details

Artemis Fine Arts

Louisville, CO, United States

4.7

1,491 Reviews

9,049 Followers

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Buyer's Premium

28.5%

Terms & Conditions

Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance. 1. PAYMENT POLICY: To provide a seamless bidder checkout, all winning lots will be invoiced through LiveAuctioneers' LivePayments invoicing system, unless bidder chooses to pay Artemis Fine Arts directly via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. If bidder chooses to pay Artemis Fine Arts directly, bidder must contact Artemis Fine Arts to arrange payment. Payments not made within 5 business days of auction's end will forfeit bidder's right to purchase said item(s), with item(s) relisted to next appropriate auction. In addition, non-paying bidders will receive posted negative feedback on LiveAuctioneers and not be allowed bidding privileges on any future auctions. 2. BUYER'S PREMIUM: A 28.5% Buyer's Premium will be added to the hammer price of each lot purchased. 3. RETURN POLICY: No sale is final if you're not happy; however, it is important that you keep in mind deadlines for reporting issues based on the following situations: a. In the event of an authenticity dispute, written email notification must be provided to Artemis Fine Arts within 2 business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. After Artemis Fine Arts is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented for consideration (NO EXCEPTIONS). If Artemis Fine Arts concludes that the expert's assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including hammer price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Fine Arts will either provide a prepaid return shipping label or reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Fine Arts will only remit refund after the item has been returned in the same condition as received. b. In the event of an error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within 2 business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided, if so requested. Artemis Fine Arts will either provide a prepaid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Fine Arts will only remit refund after the item has been returned in the same condition as received. c. If a return is requested for any reason other than the above, written notification with reason for return must be given within 2 days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data for Artemis Fine Arts to issue a refund to the original payment method. If notification is given after 5 days, the item may be returned for credit toward a future purchase or may be consigned for sale through Artemis Fine Arts. The item must be returned to Artemis Fine Arts at the buyer's expense. Original shipping charges will not be refunded. All items to be returned must be adequately insured and must be received by Artemis Fine Arts in the same condition as when shipped. In no event may any item be returned after 20 days from the date of delivery. 4. IN-HOUSE SHIPPING: All buyers will receive an invoice detailing their purchases, sales tax (if applicable), buyer's premium, and shipping/insurance charges. Items will be shipped upon receipt of payment and will be insured for their full value. If you prefer to work with a third-party shipper, we can assist with recommendations. **Please note, Artemis Fine Arts is unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia due to customs clearance issues. We are working to resolve this issue. If you are in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, arrange your own shipping, or we will not be able to complete your purchase.* **For shipments outside of the USA, custom / duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Fine Arts will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding** 5. Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado. 6. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us with questions prior to bidding or call us at 720-890-7700.

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