Pre-Columbian - All Antiquities for Sale

To distinguish the major characteristics of pre-Columbian civilizations, three general chronological divisions have been widely used: the “Pre-Classic,” or Formative, period (ca. 1500 b.c. to 300 A.D.); the “Classic,” or Florescent, period (ca. 300 to 900 A.D.); and the “Post-Classic” period (ca. 900 to 1540 A.D.). Outstanding in Pre-Columbian artistic development were architecture, sculpture, painting, and decorative arts such as pottery, metalwork, and textiles. Despite the great range and variety of artwork, certain characteristics were repeated throughout the region, namely a preference for angular, linear patterns, and three-dimensional ceramics.

Featured Products

Spondylus Shell Necklace From Peru
Spondylus Shell Necklace From Peru
Pre-Columbian Gold Eagle - Costa Rica
Pre-Columbian Gold Eagle - Costa Rica
Moche Portrait Vessel
Moche Portrait Vessel
Chancay Style Ancient Textile Doll
Chancay Style Ancient Textile Doll
Fine Moche Fox Warrior Stirrup Vessel
Fine Moche Fox Warrior Stirrup Vessel
Inca Whistling Bridge Spouted Vessel
Inca Whistling Bridge Spouted Vessel
Moche Warrior Portrait Stirrup Vessel
Moche Warrior Portrait Stirrup Vessel
Pre-Columbian Articulated Pottery Doll
Pre-Columbian Articulated Pottery Doll
Inca Pottery Offerendo
Inca Pottery Offerendo
Mayan Javalina Whistle
Mayan Javalina Whistle
Ancient Peruvian Silver Head Kero
Ancient Peruvian Silver Head Kero
How to Buy Ancient Art
Costa Rican Zoomorphic Bowl
Costa Rican Zoomorphic Bowl
Inca Blackware Aryballos
Inca Blackware Aryballos
Nazca Wool and Feather Cap
Nazca Wool and Feather Cap
Large Chorrera Spouted Vessel
Large Chorrera Spouted Vessel
Rare Bahia/ Manabi, Figural Vessel
Rare Bahia/ Manabi, Figural Vessel
Stunning Proto-Nazca Textile Frog
Stunning Proto-Nazca Textile Frog
Inca Silver Diadem
Inca Silver Diadem
Paracas Pottery Bowl, Hand Print
Paracas Pottery Bowl w/ Hand Print
Rare Sican Textile Roundel
Rare Sican Textile Roundel
Michoacan Bowl with Rare Motif
Michoacan Bowl with Rare Motif
Fine Mayan Green Jade Head
Fine Mayan Green Jade Head
Chimu Pottery Parrot Stirrup Vessel
Chimu Pottery Parrot Stirrup Vessel
Moche Copper Figure of  Warrior
Moche Copper Figure of Warrior
Rare Aztec Stone Bowl - Flower Form
Rare Aztec Stone Bowl - Flower Form
Moche I Seated Figure, Inlaid Detailing
Moche I Seated Figure, Inlaid Detailing
Moche Bone Fist, Turquoise Inlay
Moche Bone Fist, Turquoise Inlay
Costa Rican Cast Copper Harpy Eagle
Costa Rican Cast Copper Harpy Eagle
Nazca Polychrome Cup with Trophy Head
Nazca Polychrome Cup with Trophy Head
Incredible Chimu Copper and Wood Tumi
Incredible Chimu Copper and Wood Tumi
Pre-Columbian Colima Miniature Pottery Dog
Pre-Columbian Colima Miniature Pottery Dog
Inca Wooden Snuff Tray and Inhaler
Inca Wooden Snuff Tray and Inhaler
Inca Wooden Kero - Shell Inlays
Inca Wooden Kero - Shell Inlays
Miniature Nazca Polychrome Bowls
Miniature Nazca Polychrome Bowls (pair)
Mayan Incised Cylinder
Mayan Incised Cylinder
Fine Pre-Columbian Chimu Incised Tumi
Fine Pre-Columbian Chimu Incised Tumi
Chupicuaro Polychrome Tripod Vessel
Chupicuaro Polychrome Tripod Vessel
Colima Effigy Vessel of Deformed Human
Colima Effigy Vessel of Deformed Human
Jalisco Female Effigy, Ameca Style
Jalisco Female Effigy, Ameca Style
Delightful Michoacan Pottery Female Flat
Delightful Michoacan Pottery Female Flat
Pre-Columbian Colima Armadillo Olla
Pre-Columbian Colima Armadillo Olla
Chavin Decorated Stirrup Bottle
Chavin Decorated Stirrup Bottle
Peruvian Chancay Chino Vessel
Peruvian Chancay Chino Vessel
Chancay Deer Vessel
Chancay Deer Vessel - Huge!
Moche Stirrup Vessel of Tortured Male
Moche Stirrup Vessel of Tortured Male
Huari / Tihuanaco Dog Effigy
Huari / Tihuanaco Dog Effigy
Chavin Stirrup Vessel - Duality
Chavin Stirrup Vessel - Duality
Colima Portrait Head of a Shaman
Colima Portrait Head of a Shaman
Moche Bronze Pendant - Coatimundi
Moche Bronze Pendant - Coatimundi
Chancay Urn - Monkey Eating Fruit
Chancay Urn - Monkey Eating Fruit!
Peruvian Hairless Dog Effigy
Peruvian Hairless Dog Effigy
Nazca Ring-Shaped Polychrome Vessel
Nazca Ring-Shaped Polychrome Vessel
Costa Rican Stone Ax God - Avian
Costa Rican Stone Ax God - Avian
Costa Rican Stone Celt
Costa Rican Stone Celt
Chancay Polychrome Cuchimilco
Chancay Polychrome Cuchimilco
Framed Inca Textile Child's Tump Line
Framed Inca Textile Child's Tump Line
Framed Proto Nazca Tie-Dyed Textile Panel
Framed Proto Nazca Tie-Dyed Textile Panel
Framed Textile Headband - North Coast
Framed Textile Headband - North Coast
Stunning Framed Pre-Columbian Textile Panel
Stunning Framed Pre-Columbian Textile Panel
Lambayeque Pottery Stirrup Vessel
Lambayeque Pottery Stirrup Vessel
Inca Solid Silver Male Offering
Inca Solid Silver Male Offering
Large Nazca Textile Sash - Framed
Large Nazca Textile Sash - Framed
Huge Proto-Nazca Textile Turbante
Huge Proto-Nazca Textile Turbante
Important Moche-Huarmey Belt Fragments
Important Moche-Huarmey Belt Fragments
Huge Proto-Nazca Textile-Eye Dazzler
Huge Proto-Nazca Textile-Eye Dazzler
Jamacoaque Pottery Demon God
Jamacoaque Pottery Demon God
Moche Vessel of Bound Captive - Ex Sotheby's
Moche Vessel of Bound Captive - Ex Sotheby's
Costa Rican Stone Headhunter, Trophy Head
Costa Rican Stone Headhunter, Trophy Head
Rare Chavin Stirrup Vessel - Owl Heads
Rare Chavin Stirrup Vessel - Owl Heads
Moche I Sacrificial Stirrup Vessel
Moche I Sacrificial Stirrup Vessel
Chancay Figural Beaker Vessel
Chancay Figural Beaker Vessel
Chancay False Mummy Head
Chancay False Mummy Head
Moche I Cubist Form Stirrup Vessel - Jaguar
Moche I Cubist Form Stirrup Vessel - Jaguar
Moche Prisoner Vessel
Moche Prisoner Vessel
Rare Moche Wood and Copper Atl Atl
Rare Moche Wood and Copper Atl Atl
Rare Narino Square Chalice, Negative-Resist
Rare Narino Square Chalice, Negative-Resist
Moche Bi-Chrome Pottery Florero
Moche Bi-Chrome Pottery Florero
Important Large Nazca Polychrome Bowl
Important Large Nazca Polychrome Bowl
Michoacan Pottery Pretty Lady
Michoacan Pottery Pretty Lady
Pre-Columbian Colima Warrior Whistle
Pre-Columbian Colima Warrior Whistle
Chavin / Maranon Stirrup Vessel
Chavin / Maranon Stirrup Vessel
Colima Double Duck Vessel
Colima Double Duck Vessel
Monumental Jamacoaque Jaguar Head
Monumental Jamacoaque Jaguar Head
La Tolita Manioc Fish-Shaped Grater
La Tolita Manioc Fish-Shaped Grater
Proto Nazca Leather Sandals (pr)
Proto Nazca Leather Sandals (pr)
Set of 6 Veracruz Pottery Coast Watchers
Set of 6 Veracruz Pottery Coast Watchers
Moche Bronze Finial of an Atl Atl
Moche Bronze Finial of an Atl Atl
Large Perfect Chancay Pottery Cuchimilco
Large Perfect Chancay Pottery Cuchimilco
Chimu Inca Blackware Stirrup Vessel
Chimu Inca Blackware Stirrup Vessel
Chorrera Valdivian Stone Mortar
Chorrera Valdivian Stone Mortar
Mayan Carved Stone Hacha
Mayan Carved Stone Hacha
Inca Silver Tupus - Cloak Pins
Inca Silver Tupus - Cloak Pins
Mayan Poison Bottle in Form of Pauahtun
Mayan Poison Bottle in Form of Pauahtun
Large, Perfect Stone Metate - Costa Rica
Large, Perfect Stone Metate - Costa Rica
Costa Rica Apple-Green Jade Two-Headed Serpent
Costa Rica Apple-Green Jade Two-Headed Serpent
Sican / Lambayeque Stirrup Vessel - Sea Lion
Sican / Lambayeque Stirrup Vessel - Sea Lion
A Vicus Erotic Vessel
A Vicus Erotic Vessel
Colima Redware Pottery Bound Prisoner
Colima Redware Pottery Bound Prisoner
Jalisco Standing Male, Ex-Royal Athena
Jalisco Standing Male, Ex-Royal Athena
Peruvian Textile Ski Cap - North Coast
Peruvian Textile Ski Cap - North Coast
Recuay Pottery Erotic Couple
Recuay Pottery Erotic Couple
Nayarit Seated Warrior, Ex-Sotheby's
Nayarit Seated Warrior, Ex-Sotheby's
Stunning Tairona Pottery Serpent Jar
Stunning Tairona Pottery Serpent Jar
Inca Silver Tupus - Cloak Pins
Inca Silver Tupus, Cloak Pins
Colima Redware Dog Effigy
Colima Redware Dog Effigy
Rare Nazca Woven Reed Basket
Rare Nazca Woven Reed Basket
Chavin Polychrome Templadera
Chavin Polychrome Templadera
Extremely Rare Chinesco Cojoined Couple
Extremely Rare Chinesco Cojoined Couple
Teotihuacan Stone Stucco Cosmetic Container
Teotihuacan Stone Stucco Cosmetic Container
Massive Inca Pottery Aryballos - Human Form
Massive Inca Pottery Aryballos - Human Form
Choice Nazca Bridge Spouted Vessel
Choice Nazca Bridge-Spouted Vessel
Rare Inca Pottery Pacqha - Ritual Vessel
Rare Inca Pottery Pacqha - Ritual Vessel
Mayan Ulua Valley Polychrome Vessel - Rare Form
Mayan Ulua Valley Polychrome Vessel - Rare Form
Rare Mayan Peten Square Vase - Early!
Rare Mayan Peten Square Vase - Early!
Colima Seated Dwarf Jester
Colima Seated Dwarf Jester
Chavin Chongoyape Jaguar Vessel
Chavin Chongoyape Jaguar Vessel
Tiahuanaku Stone Hacha - Jaguar
Tiahuanaku Stone Hacha - Jaguar
Rare Huari Bronze Atl Atl Finial
Chimu Inca Stone Corn God Sculpture
Chimu Inca Stone Corn God Sculpture
Zapotec / Monte Alban Standing Lord
Zapotec / Monte Alban Standing Lord
Mezcala Guerrero Stone Slab Figure
Mezcala Guerrero Stone Slab Figure
Cute Recuay Pottery Vessel - Peruvian
Cute Recuay Pottery Vessel - Peruvian
Chancay Stone Feline Lime Mortar
Chancay Stone Feline Lime Mortar
Vivid Inca Pottery Offrenda - Chucu Plaque
Vivid Inca Pottery Offrenda - Chucu Plaque
Massive Inca Offrenda / Chucu Plaque - Rare!
Massive Inca Offrenda / Chucu Plaque - Rare!
Moche Double Monkey Stirrup Vessel
Moche Double Monkey Stirrup Vessel
Rare Moche Pottery Mask
Rare Moche Pottery Mask
Chancay Spotted Llama Vessels - Matched Pair!
Chancay Spotted Llama Vessels - Matched Pair!
Important Veracruz Stone Yoke Fragment
Important Veracruz Stone Yoke Fragment
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Pre-Columbian Textile Coca Bag
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Pre-Columbian Inca Textile Coca Bag
Casas Grandes Human Effigy Vessel
Casas Grandes Human Effigy Vessel
Chimu Pottery Blackware Canteen
Chimu Pottery Blackware Canteen
Sican Lambayeque Water Bird Vessel
Sican Lambayeque Water Bird Vessel
Rare Vera Cruz Whistle - Black
Rare Vera Cruz Whistle - Black
Rare Mayan Pottery Flute
Rare Mayan Pottery Flute
Casas Grandes Fish Effigy Bowl
Casas Grandes Fish Effigy Bowl
Tairona Blackware Ocarina of Human Bat
Tairona Blackware Ocarina of Human Bat
Colima Gingerbread Type Flat
Colima Gingerbread Type Flat
Incised Chavin Stone Cup, Shell Inlays
Incised Chavin Stone Cup, Shell Inlays
Moche Pottery Blackware Muscovy Duck
Chimu Blackware Whistling Bridge Vessel
Chimu Blackware Whistling Bridge Vessel
Tairona Pottery Blackware Ocarina
Tairona Pottery Blackware Ocarina
Unusual Inca Mudfish Paccha
Unusual Inca Mudfish Paccha
Fine Inca Polychrome Arballoid Jar
Fine Inca Polychrome Arballoid Jar
Attractive Inca Stone Canopa
Attractive Inca Stone Canopa
Vera Cruz Articulated Pottery Doll
Vera Cruz Articulated Pottery Doll
Huge Colima Dog with Bowl on Back
Huge Colima Dog with Bowl on Back
Mayan Carved Green Jade Pendant
Mayan Carved Green Jade Pendant
Rare Sinu Colombian Carved Bone Finial
Rare Sinu Colombian Carved Bone Finial
Fine Moche Bone Spoon - Human Head
Fine Moche Bone Spoon - Human Head
La Aguada Incised Bowl - Argentina
La Aguada Incised Bowl - Argentina
Peruvian Viru Erotic Vessel
Peruvian Viru Erotic Vessel
Moche Handless Man Vessel
Moche Handless Man Vessel
Chimu Silver Head Kero
Chimu Silver Head Kero
Vicus Double-Chambered Bat Whistle
Vicus Double-Chambered Bat Whistle
Chavin/Salinar Double-Chambered Stirrup
Chavin/Salinar Double-Chambered Stirrup
Mezcala Jadeite Earspools / Flares
Mezcala Jadeite Earspools / Flares
Maya Deity Rattle
Maya Deity Rattle
Mezcala Stone Axe God
Mezcala Stone Axe God
Valdivian Terracotta Venus Figure
Valdivian Terracotta Venus Figure
Inca Pottery Offerendo w/ People
Inca Pottery Offerendo w/ People
Colima Bedded Female Figure
Colima Bedded Female Figure
Pre-Columbian Colima Rattle
Pre-Columbian Colima Rattle
Pre-Columbian Chimu Deer Effigy
Guerrero Stone Figure / Axe God
Guerrero Stone Figure / Axe God
Huari Portrait Head Vessel
Huari Portrait Head Vessel
Pre-Columbian Chancay Fisherman Urn
Pre-Columbian Chancay Fisherman Urn
Peruvian Chimu Silver Diadems
Peruvian Chimu Silver Diadems - Pr.
Chancay Coca Bag / Chuspa
Chancay Coca Bag / Chuspa
Chavin Stone Shaman Transformation - Frog, Snake
Chavin Stone Shaman Transformation - Frog, Snake
Chavin Gold Pectoral Disc
Chavin Gold Pectoral Disc
Huari Gold Armband - Skeleton Masks
Huari Gold Armband - Skeleton Masks
Moche V Fineline, El Morro de Peten
Moche V Fineline, El Morro de Peten
Chancay Textile Cloth Doll
Chancay Textile Cloth Doll
Narino Pottery Bowl w/ Warrior
Narino Pottery Bowl w/ Warrior
Quimbaya Standing Male Figure
Quimbaya Standing Male Figure
Chimu Bone Balance Beam, Orig. Mesh
Chimu Bone Balance Beam, Orig. Mesh
Calima Bridge-Spout Whistling Vessel
Calima Bridge-Spout Whistling Vessel
Peruvian Belt Fragment - Zoomorphs
Peruvian Belt Fragment - Zoomorphs
Sican / Lambayeque Stirrup - Naylamp
Sican / Lambayeque Stirrup - Naylamp
Olmec Standing Jade Figure
Olmec Standing Jade Figure
Primitive Stone Axe - Surinam(e)
Primitive Stone Axe - Surinam(e)
Peruvian Textile Fragment - Vibrant
Peruvian Textile Fragment - Vibrant
Jalisco Ameca Style Seated Female Figure
Jalisco Ameca Style Seated Female Figure
Chupicuaro Tripod Bowl
Chupicuaro Tripod Bowl
Narino Bullet Amphora
Narino Bullet Amphora - Miniature Form!
Pre-Columbian Colima Seated Flat Figure
Pre-Columbian Colima Seated Flat Figure
Moche III / IV Warrior Single Spouted Jar
Moche III / IV Warrior Single Spouted Jar
Quimbaya Standing Female Figure
Quimbaya Standing Female Figure
Chupicuaro Polychrome Female Figure
Chupicuaro Polychrome Female Figure
Offrenda Painted Plate - Chuquibamba
Offrenda Painted Plate - Chuquibamba
Cupisnique / Chavin Single Spout Vessel
Cupisnique / Chavin Single Spout Vessel
Nazca Polychrome Olla - Harvest Dance
Nazca Polychrome Olla - Harvest Dance
Sican Silver Kero - Rows of Stars
Sican Silver Kero - Rows of Stars
Colima Flat Figure
Colima Flat Figure
Mayan Polychrome Cylinder from Copan
Mayan Polychrome Cylinder from Copan
Peruvian Offrenda - Radiating Sun
Peruvian Offrenda - Radiating Sun
Michoacan Venus Figure
Michoacan Venus Figure
Colima Maternity Idol
Colima Maternity Idol
Peruvian Stone Canopa / Votive
Peruvian Stone Canopa / Votive
Vera Cruz Seated Female Figure
Vera Cruz Seated Female Figure
Costa Rican Tripod Vessel, Rattle Legs
Costa Rican Tripod Vessel, Rattle Legs
Mezcala Stone Idol Pendant
Mezcala Stone Idol Pendant
Chimu Pre-Columbian Silver Kero
Chimu Pre-Columbian Silver Kero
Pre-Columbian Gold Turtle - Chiriqui-Diquis
Pre-Columbian Gold Turtle - Chiriqui-Diquis
Colima Tri-Lobed Redware Vessel
Colima Tri-Lobed Redware Vessel
Chorrera Long-Neck Redware Vessel
Chorrera Long-Neck Redware Vessel
Mezcala Jade Pendant - Two Heads
Mezcala Jade Pendant - Two Heads
Teotihuacan Eccentric Flint Human Figure
Teotihuacan Eccentric Flint Human Figure
Set of 4 Mochica Silver Lime Spoons
Set of 4 Mochica Silver Lime Spoons
Proto-Nazca Bridge-Spouted Vessel
Proto-Nazca Bridge-Spouted Vessel
Chimu Inca Shell Necklace With Silver Tweezers
Chimu Inca Shell Necklace With Silver Tweezers
Chimu Inca Shell Necklace w/ Silver Tweezers
Chimu Inca Shell Necklace w/ Silver Tweezers
Chimu Inca Shell Necklace - Animal Pendant
Chimu Inca Shell Necklace - Animal Pendant
Imilac Pallasite Meteorite- Stunning!
Imilac Pallasite Meteorite - Stunning!
Moche Bronze Tupu - Kissing Birds
Moche Bronze Tupu - Kissing Birds
Carnelian, Crystal and Green Stone Necklace
Carnelian, Crystal and Green Stone Necklace
Jalisco Blackware House Miniatures
Jalisco Blackware House Miniatures
Choker Necklace, Original Pre-Columbian Art
Choker Necklace, Original Pre-Columbian Art
Inca Copper Tumi - Man, Monkey
Inca Copper Tumi - Man, Monkey
Olmec Blackware Swan Bowl
Olmec Blackware Swan Bowl - Exceptional!
Peruvian Crystal & Black Agate Necklace
Peruvian Crystal & Black Agate Necklace
Moche Culture Spondylus Shell Necklace
Moche Culture Spondylus Shell Necklace
Bridge-Spouted Vessel, Casma Valley
Bridge-Spouted Vessel, Casma Valley
Moche Fineline Bottle - Warrior
Moche Fineline Bottle - Warrior
Mezcala Ax God Figure
Mezcala Ax God Figure
Paracas Face Vessel
Paracas Face Vessel
Whistling Colima Dancers
Whistling Colima Dancers, ex-Butterfield's
Mezcala Guerrero Slab Figure
Mezcala Guerrero Slab Figure

Pre-Columbian civilizations living across Peru, Mexico and Central America flourished prior to the arrival of Europeans, including Christopher Columbus, in the New World. Gods, humans and nature were woven into an intricate tapestry of beliefs and expressions by the societies of Peru and Mesoamerica (Pre-Columbian Mexico and Central America). Religion played a central organizing role in structuring people's lives. Great civilizations developed, such as the Maya in Mesoamerica and the Moche in Peru, where divine kings believed to be descended from gods ruled over vast cities and constructed monuments rivaling those of ancient Greece or Egypt. Pre-Columbian societies were connected through cosmologies in which creation and existence were explained through complex mythologies. Those mythologies told of the creation of humans and nature, and through their ideologies provided ways for humans to properly worship and sustain the universe.