Can Anyone Identify This?

[karenkstudio 63]

Attached is a pot I bought in an antique shop years ago. The dealer

thought it was from central America. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Alabama's gallery has a pit fired pot with similar characteristics.

 

It is a pit fired bowl with 3 legs and a roughly etched design. I bought it

because I liked the primitive quality of the piece.

[Amy Eberhardt 56]

I haven't the foggiest. But it sure is a cute little bugger. Mind if I ask how much you paid for it? I doubt it's old, but since you bought it because you like it, that would hardly be at issue. Now would it? I would have sprung for it too, just because it appealed to me. If I was to venture any form of an opinion as to its origins, I'd say it was probably a piece of student work. I could easily see one drawing inspiration from it.

[karenkstudio 63]

$60

[Mark (Marko) Madrazo 178]

It's a pot. Other than that, I wouldn't know. Maybe you could send a picture to one of the large auction dealers, like, Christie's. http://www.christies.com/

or http://auctionhousenyc.com/. Maybe if you could check with a University or a museum. Good luck. 

[karenkstudio 63]

Thanks Mark, LOL

 

I've done a little checking but can't find pots with legs like these.

[oldlady 2,319]

i think the legs were for putting the pot above burning wood cooking fires.  think i have seen something like this pot in the many books about ancient pottery in various parts of the world.  the theories are from modern people assuming they knew the purpose of the pot from looking at it now.  some theories might suggest keeping insects out of the contents by standing the legs in water.

 

whatever it is, you are fortunate to have found it.  maybe antiques roadshow will visit your area and you can find out that way.

[bciskepottery 959]

Try a google search for tripod pottery, select images.  Also, a google search for pre-Colombian pottery, select images. 

[karenkstudio 63]

Oldlady, I like your theory.

 

bciskepottery, I tried a Pre-Columbian search with no luck. 

[karenkstudio 63]

Bciskepottery, I just looked again and found a site with pots with 3 legs from Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico http://ancientartifax.com/precol.htm

 

Their pots look more sophisticated than mine.

[oldlady 2,319]

karen, the maker of your pot might have been an apprentice.  it always amazes me that the experts who find these pots spin stories about them that may have nothing to do with the pot's history.

 

yours is well made and perhaps was owned by a proud mama of a fledgling potter.  the kind who keeps the kid's first pots no matter how much better the work becomes.

[Chris Campbell 1,224]

It could easily be the real deal ... There was a lot of artifact level pottery theft from South and Central America ... Still is going on now quite likely. Many people brought the Artwork home from holiday before countries started caring about their artistic heritage.

[Mark C. 3,688]

My thought is enjoy it for what it is ,whether its a knock off or real.

As to real only an expert can say.

I like that form-my guess is it's pretty fragile clay

[Mark (Marko) Madrazo 178]

Thanks Mark, LOL

 

I've done a little checking but can't find pots with legs like these.

Oops, I have reached your quota of positive votes for the day. Next time.