Shamanic mortar used for the preparation of potions... Lot 41

Shamanic mortar used for the preparation of potions with hallucinogenic virtues ingested by the shamanic lord during ceremonies. The cube-shaped body rests on four feet reminiscent of an animal's legs, the upper part is fitted with a receptacle. It has a jaguar on the lookout, its mouth wide open symbolically showing the teeth, it ends with the spiral tail of a monkey. These two totemic animals fit into each other and they personify power and strength for one, agility and speed for the other, essential virtues of a leader. Veined and speckled hard stone, sculpted and polished, with luminous and aquatic reflections. Valdivia, transitional Chorrera, end of the middle formative period/start of the recent formative period, 1500 to 600 B.C. 16 x 29.5 x 9 cm Provenance: Jouan Paris, sale of 30 April 2006, lot N°17 in the catalogue. Bibliography: The Paul & Dora Janssen collection, "Masters of the Americas", Edition Fonds Mer-cator, Brussels, 2011, page 177 for a related work.