2 Huari Humaya Style Polychrome Pottery Cups, TL Tested (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 71)

$899.50

Pre-Columbian, Central Coast Peru, Huari (Wari) culture, ca. 600 to 900 CE. A pair of hand-built Humaya style pottery cups, each formed with a broad flaring body rising from a small ring base. Both are decorated in red, white, and black slip pigments, creating bold vertical panels adorned with dotted and linear motifs. These distinctive surface designs likely reflect symbolic or ritual associations tied to ceremonial drinking practices, as vessels of this form were often used for libations or communal offerings. The Humaya style emerged from the fusion of Huari and Lima ceramic traditions, combining Lima’s warm orange tones with the Huari culture’s intricate painted motifs. Size: 4.2″ W x 4.75″ H (10.7 cm x 12.1 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report will accompany the item upon purchase.

Provenance: private Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA collection

Condition: Good. Minor chip to the rim on one, but otherwise both are intact and excellent. Light mineral deposits on the surfaces. Both cups have two TL testing holes, one on the inner rim and on the base.