Lot 211

Nariño-Capulí Negative-Resist Effigy Urn - Human Visage, Volutes & Sunburst

Previous image preload Next image preload

Nariño-Capulí Negative-Resist Effigy Urn - Human Visage, Volutes & Sunburst

Estimate: $5,000 - $7,500

Starting Bid: $2,500

(0 Bids)

by Artemis Fine Arts
June 11, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Pre-Columbian, Andes, Colombia - Ecuador border region, Nariño - Capulí culture., ca. 800 - 1200 CE. A large and rare ovoid urn whose flared mouth crowns a modeled human visage, the cheeks and chin emerging from the neck and flanked by small lug projections that read as stylized shoulders. Hand-built of terracotta and finely burnished, the vessel is decorated in the celebrated Nariño negative-resist technique, yielding a rich red ground enlivened by black-painted volutes, zigzag mountain bands, radiating sunbursts, and cross-hatched panels that wrap the body; fire-clouds from the kiln softly mottle the lower cone-shaped base. Size: 11.75" W x 19.25" H x 9" D (29.8 cm W x 48.9 cm H x 22.9 cm D)

Nariño - Capulí ceramics and is here deployed with graphic precision to create a continuous frieze encircling the midsection. Such figural jars likely served in funerary rites as effigy urns or containers for chicha and offerings, with close stylistic parallels preserved in major collections including the Museo del Oro, Bogotá, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, ex Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, NY, ex collection of Jimmy Belilty, Miami, active since 1974

SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.

Item # 202569

  • Condition: Rim reattached, section of central body of reverse repaired almost invisibly, probably from a probe that blew out a section abut 4" by 4"

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 + $1,000