Inka Tone Monkey-shaped offering bowl - 9.5 cm
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Current bid
€ 100
Reserve price met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 380 - € 450
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 Bidder 3892 | €100 | |
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Inca culture, an Opferschale in Affenform a terracotta ritual bowl in the shape of a stylized monkey dating to 1470–1532 AD, with a height of 9.5 cm, width of 12 cm and depth of 5.5 cm, authenticated with minimal wear.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Expressive, figurative ritual bowl in the form of a stylized monkey, drawing on the iconographic tradition of the late pre-Columbian Andean cultures. The object combines the function of a small ritual vessel with a sculptural animal representation and reflects the symbolic meaning of animals within the Inca worldview.
The bowl shows a compact, rounded body from which the plastically worked head protrudes. The widely opened mouth forms the central opening and lends the piece a dynamic, lively effect. Delicately incised lines in the upper area suggest fur texture or head markings and underscore the craftsmanship. The reduced, abstracted formal language corresponds to the typical stylistic conception of pre-Columbian animal depictions, where symbolism and expression are prioritized over naturalistic detail.
The monkey had a special significance in the pre-Columbian cultural area and was often associated with agility, a connection to nature, and the link between the human and the spiritual world. Such vessel forms could be used in ritual contexts as small offerings or drinking vessels, for the presentation of liquids, seeds, or other cultic gifts.
The surface shows a dark, nearly black-brown patina with light abrasions and irregular tonal nuances, which give the object an archaic and authentic aura. The softly rounded vessel form and the harmonious connection between function and figure make this piece particularly decorative and collectible.
Provenance
There are no written provenance records for the object.
The piece comes from the Schuhmacher collection (Netherlands), a family collection of antique dealers and booksellers who were also collectors. After the death of the last family member, no written records were handed down.
It is known that the family had been acquiring their objects from the 1950s onward through established art dealers in Amsterdam. The pieces were demonstrably already in family ownership before the late 1980s, even before the death of the family patriarch in 1986.
Expressive, figurative ritual bowl in the form of a stylized monkey, drawing on the iconographic tradition of the late pre-Columbian Andean cultures. The object combines the function of a small ritual vessel with a sculptural animal representation and reflects the symbolic meaning of animals within the Inca worldview.
The bowl shows a compact, rounded body from which the plastically worked head protrudes. The widely opened mouth forms the central opening and lends the piece a dynamic, lively effect. Delicately incised lines in the upper area suggest fur texture or head markings and underscore the craftsmanship. The reduced, abstracted formal language corresponds to the typical stylistic conception of pre-Columbian animal depictions, where symbolism and expression are prioritized over naturalistic detail.
The monkey had a special significance in the pre-Columbian cultural area and was often associated with agility, a connection to nature, and the link between the human and the spiritual world. Such vessel forms could be used in ritual contexts as small offerings or drinking vessels, for the presentation of liquids, seeds, or other cultic gifts.
The surface shows a dark, nearly black-brown patina with light abrasions and irregular tonal nuances, which give the object an archaic and authentic aura. The softly rounded vessel form and the harmonious connection between function and figure make this piece particularly decorative and collectible.
Provenance
There are no written provenance records for the object.
The piece comes from the Schuhmacher collection (Netherlands), a family collection of antique dealers and booksellers who were also collectors. After the death of the last family member, no written records were handed down.
It is known that the family had been acquiring their objects from the 1950s onward through established art dealers in Amsterdam. The pieces were demonstrably already in family ownership before the late 1980s, even before the death of the family patriarch in 1986.
Details
Culture
Inka
Century/timeframe
1470–1532 n. Chr.
Name of object
Monkey-shaped offering bowl
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Tone
Country acquired from
Unknown
Condition
Authentic, only minimally bumped.
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
9.5 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1950
Width
12 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Unknown
Depth
5.5 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
