Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Pre-Columbian Sculpture from an Important European Private Collection
Sicán Gold Kero with Heads and Frogs, circa AD 900-1100
Lot Closed
November 21, 07:08 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Pre-Columbian Sculpture from an Important European Private Collection
Sicán Gold Kero with Heads and Frogs
circa AD 900-1100
Height: 6 in (15.2 cm)
European Private Collection, acquired from the above on January 30, 1980
Thence by descent
Ceremonial cups of the Sicán era were deeply repoussé with iconic images reinforcing their ritual value. On this beaker, four heads of the Sicán deity head encircle the walls above four frogs with outspread feet. The Sicán lord was consistently portrayed with strong comma-shaped eyes and a crescentic headdress. The mere image of his face brings forth his powerful role as a warrior and ruler.
Andean frogs include Bufo spinulosus, which live in river beds of the desert valleys, and the large Bufo marinus, from the Pacific Coast. Both amphibians have textured skin as shown on this kero. Frogs had vocal behavior and often appeared mysteriously after hibernating underground. They were valued and respected for their potent serums used as hallucinogenic tools.
For examples of similar beakers, see World of Ancient Gold, New York World's Fair, 1964.