Nazca, Peru, Terracotta, Pottery Plate decorated. 16 cm D. c. 200 - 600 AD. Spanish Import License.





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Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
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Description from the seller
Decorated plate bowl with peppers
Nazca, Peru, c. 200 - 600 AD
MATERIAL: Terracotta and pigments.
SIZE: 16 cm diameter and 5 cm height
PROVENANCE: Private collection, France, formed around 1950.
CONDITION: Good, see photos.
The ceramic vessels of the Nazca culture, which developed on the southern coast of present-day Peru between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, are one of the most remarkable examples of pre-Columbian Andean art. These pieces stand out for their technique, colorfulness, and symbolic complexity, reflecting the worldview and ritual practices of a deeply spiritual people.
Nazca artisans made their vessels from fine clay and modeled them by hand, without a potter's wheel, achieving varied shapes such as globular bottles, bowls, and jugs with double spouts and bridge handles. They then applied a wide range of mineral pigments, which could reach up to twelve different colors. The figures were painted before firing, using the post-firing negative painting technique, which gave the ceramics a bright and durable appearance.
Decorative motifs included mythological beings, animals, plants, trophy heads, and human figures, often depicted in ritual scenes or related to fertility and water, essential elements in the arid Nazca environment. More than just utilitarian objects, ceramic vessels served a ceremonial function, used in offerings and burials. These masterpieces reveal the deep connection between art, religion, and nature in Nazca culture, one of the most fascinating of ancient Peru.
Seller's Story
Decorated plate bowl with peppers
Nazca, Peru, c. 200 - 600 AD
MATERIAL: Terracotta and pigments.
SIZE: 16 cm diameter and 5 cm height
PROVENANCE: Private collection, France, formed around 1950.
CONDITION: Good, see photos.
The ceramic vessels of the Nazca culture, which developed on the southern coast of present-day Peru between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, are one of the most remarkable examples of pre-Columbian Andean art. These pieces stand out for their technique, colorfulness, and symbolic complexity, reflecting the worldview and ritual practices of a deeply spiritual people.
Nazca artisans made their vessels from fine clay and modeled them by hand, without a potter's wheel, achieving varied shapes such as globular bottles, bowls, and jugs with double spouts and bridge handles. They then applied a wide range of mineral pigments, which could reach up to twelve different colors. The figures were painted before firing, using the post-firing negative painting technique, which gave the ceramics a bright and durable appearance.
Decorative motifs included mythological beings, animals, plants, trophy heads, and human figures, often depicted in ritual scenes or related to fertility and water, essential elements in the arid Nazca environment. More than just utilitarian objects, ceramic vessels served a ceremonial function, used in offerings and burials. These masterpieces reveal the deep connection between art, religion, and nature in Nazca culture, one of the most fascinating of ancient Peru.
Seller's Story
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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.
