Colombia, Early Calima Alcarazza with male and female figures
A couple are seated back to back on an early form of this "alcarazza" vessel type, which was characteristic of Calima ceramics from Colombia. The globular body, modeled figures and incised decoration were typical of the earliest "Llama" phase of Calima pottery. Later examples of alcarazzas are less globular, with multi-chambered bodies, and vessels tend to be smaller. See Cardale de Schrimpff et. al., "Calima: Diez mil anos de historia en el suroccidente de Colombia" (1992) and Armand Labbé, "Colombia Before Columbus: The People, Culture, and Ceramic Art of Prehispanic Colombia" (1986).
Period: Colombia, Calima, Llama Phase, circa 800 BC-AD100
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height 8 1/4"
$4,500
M4053