Antique Shipibo-Conibo Pottery Vessel

Item Description:

Measurement:

Height:  4 ½” inches (11.4 cm)

Width: varies from 3 ½” – 6” inches (8.9 -15.2 cm)

Rim Thickness: 1/16”inch (.2 cm)

This item for auction is an older medium sized jar/olla from the depths of the Amazon rainforest. 

You can see that the complexities of these older pieces aren’t what the contemporary ones demonstrate. They depend on a simple bold geometric design. The colors are not as vibrant, and the pottery is very thin and delicate. The pieces are extremely soft and light weight and their technique is all done manually without the use of pottery wheels. This makes them fragile and they may suffer from some surface damage over time. 

This particular bowl measures from 3 1/2” to 6” in diameter and is 4 ½” tall, and is in excellent condition, despite its age. The geometric pattern is bold and very strong, has nice workmanship. The bottom is ochre yellow and has an excellent form. This olla’s shape is the poetry of its design. The smallest olla, kenti vacu, is used to heat medicines and can also serve as a portable cook pot. 

This one was collected from the Ecuadorian Amazon in the early eighties and it was old then. Really a fine piece of Shipibo Pottery, so light and delicate. 

It’s becoming more difficult to find these older examples of Shipibo pottery. See the many photos for the condition and composition of this rare artifact. Email with any questions.

Buyer info:

• Packaging and shipping is done with care. If you have a special request we will do our best to accommodate.

• It is my intention to be as clear and accurate as possible. In the event I make an error, I will always do my best to remedy the situation.

• Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Please read the item description and submit any questions you might have for clarification of the item for sale prior to bidding. 

• Payment must be received within 3 days of auction ending.

• I have been collecting artifacts for over 40 years and I have been a member of the eBay community since 1998.  Please Bid with confidence.

Origin:

Shipibo artisans are well-known for depicting their Ayahuasca-based cosmology in the intricate designs of their pottery and often colorful fabrics. Inspired by their ancient relationship with Ayahuasca  the geometric designs used by Shipibo artisans are quite unique.  As might be expected, their pottery was initially very simple and used as containers to preserve food.  With time, pottery and designs have become more and more complex.  The sophisticated designs and geometric patterns of the ceramics are passed from one generation of artists to another.  The pieces are extremely soft and light weight and their technique is all done manually without the use of pottery wheels. The art form of the Shipibos is little understood by the outside world.  To the artists, is not something that they are taught, rather they are inspired to create their distinctive patterns.  The women, rather than the men in the village, are the artists.  Commonly the women will work together to produce a single piece.  Each of the women seems to be moved by the same artistic spirit and one woman can interrupt her work and then assign another woman in the village to complete a particular piece.  When the artwork is finished, the resulting piece will look like it was made by a single artist.  This really is communal art at its finest. There are many theories about the meaning of the unique intricate Shipibo geometric patterns. 

Some anthropologists consider it an ancient language form; others hypothesize that the patterns represent a mapping of the rivers of the Amazon.  Some even believe the patterns represent the shapes of the Anaconda.  While anthropologists may not be able to agree on the meaning, art lovers can appreciate the beautiful designs, the soft curves and the pristine yet original look of the Shipibo designs.