PRE-COLUMBIAN NAYARIT POTTERY JAR DENHAM ESTATE RARE From the Denham Collection Hasso von Winning Authentic Start Price USD 1,250.00 Current Price USD 1,250.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 2,250.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, November 14, 2008 End Time Friday, November 21, 2008 Location Tucson, AZ. See more about 'PRE-COLUMBIAN NAYARIT POTTERY JAR DENHAM ESTATE RARE' Description Pre-Columbian Shaft Tomb Culture Nayarit Funeral Jar Western Mexico The Western Mexico Shaft Tomb complex, or culture, refers to a set of interlocked cultural traits found in the western Mexico states of Jalisco, Nayarit, and Colima, roughly dating to a period between 100BC - 500AD.  Until recently, the locally-found artifacts were all that was known of the people and culture that created the shaft tombs.  So little was known, in fact, that a major 1998 exhibition featuring these artifacts was titled "Art and Archeology of the Unknown Past".  The Shaft Tomb Culture clay and ceramic figures, objects, and other items were made specifically to be placed in the tombs and buried with the dead as funeral pieces.  This Shaft Tomb Culture jar is from southern Nayarit in western Mexico.  It is from a heavily provenanced collection that was originally purchased from Mrs. Cary L. Rutherford of Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 18, 1979 by Dorothy Denham of Tempe, Arizona.  The bill of sale for this purchase was notarized Oct. 30, 1983.  The entire collection was catalogued and authenticated by Hasso von Winning in May of 1977.  Hasso von Winning has incredible credentials (see last picture), and is the foremost authority on the Shaft Tomb Cultures,  has authored several publications, including numerous articles in scientific and archaeological journals.  Mr. von Winning was also the consultant in Mesoamerican Archaeology for the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, California when did did the authentication of this piece.  This jar and has manganese deposits and other mineralization consistent with a 2000-year old funereal piece. It is in excellent in-situ condition for its age but does have a few minor rim chips (see picture #8).  This jar is item number 5 in Hasso von Winning's authentication catalogue, and has the corresponding collection number on indented bottom of the jar, picture, and description (see picture #9).  This jar is described in the collection catalog as "Long-necked jar with composite silhouette.  Red brown with heavy calcareous deposits. Re-curved body with ridged four tier upper part and bowl shaped lower part; concave base. Unusual shape."  In his 'calcareous deposits', under only 25 power, there can easily be seen the remnants of petrified tree roots, with some whole pieces still in-situ. On stone items I have only seen this occur on items 2000 years old, or older. While mineralization, under optimum conditions, starts to happen rapidly on a microscopic level (Mount St. Helen), it is quite difficult to find and extremely rare on burial items. Under 45 power magnification you can see where the petrified roots have also agatized (See picture 7 for 7X microsopic picture of one of the petrified roots). The inside of this jar also has large amounts of burial mud with roots intermingled. The jar is 7" high and 7" in diameter.  The top of the jars neck is 2-1/4" in diameter.  There were 52  pieces catalogued and authenticated by Hasso von Winning in this collection, and this is just one of the pieces that we will be offering in the weeks to come. These wonderful, authentic items are all pre-dated to the Unesco Treaty and totally legal. Such provenance is almost unheard of, and there is no 20% buyers premium. All pieces have been reinspected by me under microscopic conditions, and by Mr. Fred Gumbart of Arizona Galleries. You may view theses items or any of our other antiquities, fine art or artifacts at our gallery, by appointment only. We are Antiquities, Plus... David Fredericks 2752 North Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719 Phone 520-991-2153 Refunds will be made only upon receipt by us (within 14 days of buyer's receipt of the item), of a written verification from a major University Department Head, or Major Museum Curator from a recognized institution in the appropriate field. Note: For International sales, the buyer is responsible for their own import duty taxes. Place a Bid!