Anthropomorphic Terracotta Vase of the San Agustin Culture

Culture: San Agustin Culture

Period: 2nd century B.C.-1st century A.D.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 15.5 cm high; 16.5 cm long

Price: 2 800 Euro

Ref: 11018

Provenance: Austrian private collection Prof. Josef Mairitsch (1938-1994) with the inventory number M146. Acquired between 1960 and the early 1980s. Thence in the family estate. With a copy of the catalogue page.

Condition: Except for some light encrustation intact and wonderfully preserved.

Description: Important figurative vase of the San Agustin culture. The large, compressed vessel with a rounded base, short neck and pulled out rim. On the rim sits a mask-like, rectangular head with a concave face. The eyes are narrow, the nose broad and the mouth engraved as a thick line. On the sides of the head the figure stretches its long arms forward, which at the same time serve as handles. They end on the trumpet-shaped spout, which has an oval rim decorated with incised lines. The entire vessel is covered in red colour. Published in: Josef Mairitsch “Columbus am Wörthersee. Amerika vor Columbus.” Catalogue for the special exhibition of the Cultural Department of the der state capital Klagenfurt from 1 June to 31 October 1992, p. 90, no. 14.20. See for the type Armand J. Labbé “Colombia Antes De Colón”, Bogota 1988, p. 156, no. 115.