Lot 51

Mississippian Caddo Friendship Engraved Bottle

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Lot 51
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Mississippian Caddo Friendship Engraved Bottle
Mississippian Caddo Friendship Engraved Bottle
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Mississippian Caddo Friendship Engraved Bottle

Estimate: $900 - $1,350

Starting Bid: $400

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
August 6, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Native American, Southeastern United States, Caddo culture, Mississippian period, ca. 900 to 1600 CE. A Mississippian period Caddo pottery water bottle from Hempstead County, Arkansas, made in the classic Caddo tradition of refined forms and precise engraved decoration. The vessel features a broad, rounded body and a tall, straight neck with a slightly flared rim, designed for controlled pouring and easy handling. The surface is fired to a soft gray-black tone, with darker areas and subtle burnishing that give the bottle a calm, matte presence. Around the shoulder and body, the vessel is decorated with the distinctive curving motifs associated with Friendship Engraved pottery. Carefully cut lines form sweeping arcs that wrap across the rounded form, punctuated by short, evenly spaced ticks. The design reads as rhythmic and continuous, with a sense of movement that feels both intentional and balanced. Size: 7.6" Diameter x 11.1" H (19.3 cm x 28.2 cm)

Water bottles like this were functional containers, but within Caddo communities they also carried social and ceremonial importance. Engraved bottles were often used in formal settings and frequently placed in burial contexts, where they served as meaningful offerings connected to status, identity, and remembrance. With its elegant silhouette and confident engraving, this bottle is a strong example of Caddo artistry in the Mississippian period, where utility and visual order were shaped into a single, enduring object.

Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private New York, USA collection, acquired in September 2014 via a private seller

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Item # 201105

  • Condition: Repaired with restoration over some break lines and chipping along other visible break lines. Surface wear as shown. Good preservation of incised motifs.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000