Artifacts - South America - stone, pottery, gold, textiles, beads

 South American Pre-Columbian

Monkey Figurine

Chancay, Moche, or Mochica

classic period

circa 500 to 1000 AD

SOLD

 dimensions:

approx 2 1/2" wide x 5 1/4" high x 1 1/2" deep

Press molded terra-cotta ceramic monkey with burnished red / brown slip surface. Humorous figurine with large eyes and ears, pronounced chin, and bowed legs forming a loop or stirrup.  Grouping of brush strokes painted on top of head with yellowish pigment. Figure is holding something decorated with crosshatch designs close to the chest. Purpose unknown.  

Facial features, shape of eyes, placement and form of hands, and painted banding on head indicate Chancay culture, but Moche or Mochica is also a possibility.  Several other Chancay pieces were included in the collection.

Good Condition. Some repaired cracking where body meets right leg, and on lower back side of torso.  

 

Press molds were used by many pre-columbian peoples to mass produce their ceramic wares. Wet clay was pressed into ceramic molds, then removed from the the mold as the clay dried. This innovative technique was a significant change from traditional techniques of modeled or coiled pottery, allowing consistency in design and rapid production.

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