Double Spout and Bridge Vessel with Incised Feline Face
- Culture
- Paracas
- Date
- c.800–500 BCE
- Material
- Ceramic with pigment
- made in
- Peru, South America
- Classification
- Ceramics, containers
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 111
- Dimensions
- 7 1/16 x 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 in. (18 x 15 x 15 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 183:1979
NOTES
The front panel of this vessel is incised with a gruesome feline face, its pointed teeth extending beyond the confines of the mouth. Its facial features are highlighted through the use of post-fire resinous pigments. The shape of the eyes and placement of the pupils are indicative of northern Chavín influence on Paracas ceramics. The small nodes at the upper corners of the panel represent the ears of the feline. The damaged spout above the face was likely modeled as a stylized bird. These spouts often functioned as a whistle when liquid was poured from the vessel; other spouts were obstructed by an effigy head. These are referred to as “blind spouts.”
Provenance
- 1971
Everett Rassiga Inc., New York, NY, USA
1971 - 1979
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Everett Rassiga Inc. [1]
1979 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated February 6, 1971 from Everett Gallery Inc. to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Double spouted vessel, Chavinoid face" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] A letter dated July 5, 1979 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, October 10, 1979.
Everett Rassiga Inc., New York, NY, USA
1971 - 1979
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Everett Rassiga Inc. [1]
1979 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated February 6, 1971 from Everett Gallery Inc. to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Double spouted vessel, Chavinoid face" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] A letter dated July 5, 1979 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, October 10, 1979.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.