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Inca Pottery Offerendo

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Description

The history behind these offerendos is quite fascinating... ca. 1300 - 1500 A.D., during the height of the ancient Inca Empire, as the most conclusive dating came from a cache found in southern Peru where a number of them were placed inside a cave, each separated by a wooden branch or stick. One of the sticks was carbon dated with the result showing a date of 1400 A.D.
This large pottery example is painted with ground natural pigments in green, red, blue and white with both people and animal forms. Plates like this were placed as offerings to Pacha Mama and Pacha Papa (Mother and Father Earth) to insure health among the livestock and among human inhabitants of the clan. If the animal is shown upright, this meant the existing herd was relatively healthy; if the animal was shown laying down, this meant the herd was suffering from the result of drought or disease. Occasionally lines run through these offerendos and this represents the irrigation system the clan relied upon to bring them the precious waters down from the Andes. This example measures 6-5/8"W x 9"H, and is in choice, unretouched condition - perfect as a wall-hanging to complement any display of ancient or modern art!

Provenance: Ex-Private Southwestern Collection.

Price	USD $ 2.60
Origin	Peru, South America
Styleperiod	Antiquity, Classical
Materials	pottery
Height	9 inch
Width	6.5 inch
Categorie	Antiquities, the Americas