A fine Inca hunchback urpus – aryballo. All black ceramic body. A complete human head over a wide-shouldered, hunchback individual. Sculpted low relief arms reaching out to the front on the upper chamber. Standard side strap handles mid-torso with a pointed bottom. He has a nicely defined face. A bob-style haircut and wears ears, nose, and neck jewelry. The vase opening also serves as his hat.
Measures 8.75″ /22.22 cm in height.
Condition: Rim-chip to the front area with no attempts to repair; otherwise, it is in Excellent Condition—earthen deposits throughout the surface.
Inca-Chimu, c. 1470 AD. Peru
Provenance: Ex J. Mathieu Estate, Hope, RI. Acquired 1970s
As with all ceramics from these periods, they met two functions: simple daily domestic use with less finishing or ceremonial vessels that showed higher aesthetic commitment.
Inca Portrait Head
Price – $1,480 – Domestic Delivery Included
Explore this exquisite Aztec stone figure of Toci. This finely sculpted votive piece captures Toci in an unusual standing position. The details of her intricate facial features are crisp and beautifully executed. Adorned with rosette-styled earplugs, surrounded by her long, simple, straight, parted coiffure. She also wears a traditional Aztec skirt garment and footwear. This ancient artifact shows the goddess tenderly embracing her life-giving abdomen and would have been placed on top of an altar. This stone offering is 5.5″ in height.
Condition is Choice.
Provenance: Ex – T. Tomaszek, Blackstone, MA. Acquired 1970’s
In the heart of the ancient Aztec civilization, the sun’s golden rays lit up the verdant landscapes, illuminating the revered deity known as Toci, the Grandmother Goddess. Her name, “Our Grandmother,” echoed through Aztec mythology, embodying profound reverence for her role as the protector and nurturer of all life.
The mists of time cloaked Toci’s origins, intertwining her existence with the very fabric of the Aztec cosmos. The Aztecs believed she emerged from the primordial waters, a fundamental force that gave birth to all creation. As the Grandmother Goddess, she presided over healing and childbirth, her gentle touch bringing solace to the sick and joy to expectant mothers.
In the Aztec pantheon, Toci held great importance. The Aztecs revered her as the patroness of midwives and healers, her wisdom and compassion guiding them in their sacred duties. Her image adorned temples and shrines throughout the Aztec empire, where people sought her blessings and protection.
Toci’s iconography symbolized her role richly. Artists often depicted her as an older woman with a mature face and long, flowing hair. She wore traditional Aztec garments and carried a staff or spindle, representing her connection to healing and childbirth.
In the Aztec belief system, Toci actively participated in the lives of her people. They believed she intervened in times of need, comforting the suffering and guiding the lost. People invoked her name in prayers and rituals and carried her image in processions to honor her divine power.
The Tecuilhuitontli, held in May, was one of the most important festivals dedicated to Toci. During this festival, people gathered in temples and homes to offer prayers and sacrifices to the Grandmother Goddess. They danced and sang in her honor, and midwives and healers performed rituals to invoke her blessings.
Toci’s influence extended beyond the physical realm. The Aztecs believed she guarded the dead, guiding the souls of the departed to the afterlife. They often placed her image in tombs and burial sites, testifying to her role as a protector and comforter in the face of death.
As the Aztec empire flourished, Toci’s cult grew in prominence. Her temples became centers of healing and spiritual guidance, and her priests and priestesses earned high respect for their knowledge and wisdom. However, the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century posed a profound challenge to the Aztec civilization and its beliefs.
The Spanish missionaries sought to eradicate the indigenous religions of the Americas, including the worship of Toci. They destroyed her temples, defaced her images, and persecuted her priests. Yet, despite these attempts at suppression, Toci’s legacy lived on in the hearts of the Aztec people.
Toci’s cult went underground in the centuries that followed, but her spirit continued to endure. She became a symbol of resistance and cultural continuity, her image hidden in secret places and her stories passed down through generations.
Today, Toci’s legacy remains alive in the traditions and beliefs of the Nahuatl people, the descendants of the Aztecs. They revere her as a powerful and benevolent deity; they whisper her name with reverence, and her image still adorns homes and shrines.
In the modern world, Toci’s message of healing and compassion resonates with people from all walks of life. Many see her as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all living things, a reminder that we are all part of a more extensive web of existence.
As the sun sets on the ancient lands of the Aztecs, Toci’s spirit continues to shine brightly. She remains the Grandmother Goddess, the protector of the sick, the comforter of the grieving, and the guardian of the dead. Her legacy testifies to the enduring power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit.
Price – $12,800 – Domestic Delivery Included
Provenance: Private Florida collection; P. Goodman collection, Houston, Tx
Price $1245 – Domestic Delivery Included
Explore this exquisite Condorhuasi figure vessel, crafted from orange clay with a buff surface and applied paint. This ancient artifact showcases intricate facial features and body tattooing. Hooped arms to his side also suspend the vessel. Encapsulated during burial, a white layer deposit of calcium carbonate surrounds the figure’s surface.
This effigy vessel’s overall height is 7” and can be stood unassisted; however, a custom wooden platform has been provided for better stability.
The inner rim is chipped, as shown otherwise, and is in excellent overall condition.
The Condorhuasi culture, flourishing between 2000 BC and 500 AD in what is now northwestern Argentina, is renowned for its sophisticated ceramics and intricate stone artistry. The Condorhuasi people are believed to have had a deep connection with their environment and spiritual beliefs, often expressed through their pottery and stone artifacts.
Collectors and historians alike value Condorhuasi ceramics for their rarity and historical importance. Ensuring the preservation of such artifacts is vital for ongoing research and education about ancient South American cultures. With its calcium carbonate coating, this figure vessel remains in excellent overall condition, making it a prized addition to any collection of ancient artifacts.
Provenance: P. Goodman collection, Houston, Tx
Price $795 – Domestic Delivery Included
This is a battle sling from the Inca culture c. 1400s. Made of braided Llama wool. The brown and tan colored center cradle/pouch has a slit to secure the stone projectile. These were very effective Inca weapons. When not in use, it was worn as a headband. Simultaneously, slings were also used for herding but generally made more colorful. Ceremonial dance huaracas are identifiable by their elaborate and complex braiding using multiple contrasting colors with no slit in its pouch.
Andean highlands, Peru. c. 1400 AD. Measures 65″ / 165. cm in length. Some natural degradation is evident in the fibers. Excellent condition. Mounted in an older antique style wood shadow box frame with a hinged lock door. Keys provided. The display case measures 17.75” x 12” x 2”.
Provenance: B. Morales collection, Florida
Price $600 – Domestic Delivery Included
An ornate pair of lime spoons with Sandpiper finials. These small spoons removed lime from specialized receptacles (caleros, poporus) as part of the coca chewing ritual. These tools resemble tupus, but their shaft is shorter, and they end in a small, convex spoon rather than a point. Special treatment was given to the spoon head. The casting would have been detailed, but after two millennia, it has been hidden under a gorgeous, rich, encrusted verdigris patina. North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 B.C. – 300 A.D.
Measures approx. 4″ and 3.5″. A wooden platform will accompany these pieces.
Price – $495 – Domestic Delivery Included
Finely made Valdivian Ceremonial Stone Axe. Symmetric and highly polished dark green stone. Custom display stand. Measures 6.25″ (16.87cm) tall. 7″ (17.78cm) mounted. Choice condition. Ecuador 4400-1450 B.C. These refined stone axes were symbolic and interred as payment to Mother Earth.
Professionally mounted and ready to display. Perfectly sized for an office desk.
A great interest in and desire for green stones developed during the Late Formative period. They were exotic in most areas and would have been sought in exchange over long distances as they became widespread in domestic and mortuary contexts. The dramatic growth in popularity of green stones also occurred at about the same time in Mesoamerica.
These objects are only known through archeological studies in northwest South America and have usually been described as” ceremonial axes.” However, the Museo Chileno of Precolumbian Art describes these as “Lithophones.”
Similar examples were published in Ancient Ecuador—Culture, Clay, and Creativity 3000-300 B.C. and appear at Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, Quito, Ecuador.
Provenance: Private Florida collection acquired in the 1970s-80s
Price – $1,245 – Domestic Delivery Included
For your consideration, here is an excellent opportunity to acquire a rare pair of small Chancay clay figurines called “Cuchimilcos” or “Star Gazers.” These twins stand at 7.5″/19.05 cm and 7.3″/18.54 cm in height; they are made from fired clay and painted in cream, with brown paint detailing their features. Each figure is carefully crafted, with detailed facial features and open arms, possibly symbolizing a welcoming gesture or an offering posture. Decorated tunics, perhaps depicting pollywogs, adorn them, enhancing their cultural significance and artistic charm.
The Chancay culture, flourishing on the central coast of Peru between 1200 and 1450 AD, is renowned for its distinctive pottery and textiles. Again, this is an excellent opportunity to acquire an actual set of Cuchimilcos, which intrigue people because they often appear in pairs within Chancay tombs. They are remarkably preserved and offer a rare glimpse into the burial practices and beliefs of the Chancay people. Some scholars suggest that these figures served as symbolic companions for the deceased, possibly representing a female counterpart intended to accompany the individual into the afterlife.
The craftsmanship of these figures highlights the Chancay culture’s attention to detail and symbolic expression. The creamy white base with brown paint application is typical of Chancay pottery, which often features simple yet expressive designs. The depiction of the tunics with possible pollywog motifs might hint at themes of fertility, water, or rebirth, though the exact significance remains a topic of scholarly debate.
These Cuchimilcos are more than just decorative items; they are cultural artifacts that offer insight into the spiritual and everyday lives of the Chancay people. Their well-preserved condition, coupled with their historical significance, makes them a valuable addition to any collection of pre-Columbian art. Whether you are a seasoned collector or new to the field, this pair of Chancay figurines represents a unique and meaningful acquisition.
Condition: Completely intact pairs.
Provenance: Florida collection; W Tooley, Friendswood, TX
Price – $985 – Domestic Delivery Included
A tall, pointed bottom amphora with faded negative resist black geometric decoration on a cream ground and painted red-brown geometric decorative highlights. The surface has scattered mineral deposits. There is a 1/2” rim chip and a few minor surface scratches; otherwise, it is intact.
Piartal cultural complex. Ca. 750 A.D.-1250 A.D. Highland Nariño region. Measures approx 24.5” H, 29.5” on the stand.
Custom metal base included – Ready for display.
Price – $2,200 – Domestic Delivery Included
Large Fine Nariño Vessel
A very large globular vessel from the Piartal cultural complex. Ca. 750 A.D. – 1250 A.D. Highland Nariño region. This rare, important olla is decorated with symbols of authority. Resist black-painted curved canes and spot elements integrated onto the cream-painted pot with added red and black framing lines. Measures approximately 18.5″ H, 13″ Dia., 44″ circum.
Completely intact with minor surface wear consistent with its age – Strong paint. Condition is Choice.
Price – $5,200 – Domestic Delivery Included