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Pre-Columbian, Central America, Panama, Grand Cocle, ca. 500 to 900 CE. We have certainly handled many a trophy head vessel; however, examples created by the ancients of Panama are not very common. This vessel presents a dramatic visage on the front side of the bulbous body with beady eyes covered by a theatrical mask, nose and ears also in relief, as well as a toothy grimace. This face is surrounded by a stylized coiffure, headdress, and/or tattoos that extend all the way around the vessel and are delineated in red, black, and beige hues. Below the chin are a series of striated bands. Above the head a tall cylindrical neck rises to a flared, flat rim, and a single spout joins it to the shoulder. All rests on an integral ring base. Size: 6″ in diameter (the head) x 6.5″ H (15.2 cm x 16.5 cm)
Traditionally “headhunting” has been interpreted as a somewhat incidental rather than central warfare practice; however, recent scholarship has suggested that headhunting added a significant magical and supernatural dimension to warfare. Each severed head was imbued with specific meaning and the act of taking the head was “consecrated and commemorated in some form” according to anthropologist and professor John W. Hoopes (“Sorcery and the Taking of Heads in Ancient Costa Rica” 2007). One look at this trophy head confirms Professor Hoopes theory!
Condition: Front section of rim reattached and repainted. Nicks to rim of handle-spout. Normal surface wear with minute slip losses, scuffs, and abraded areas as shown. Nice craquelure to areas of the surface. Possible repaired probe hole at lower end of back wall.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-J. Berryman collection, Florida, USA
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