r/Antiques • ✓ • 10h ago

Questions Old-looking bowl, possibly pre-Columbian, with decorative animal heads and pattern (New York, USA)

This was found while cleaning out an old family house. I believe it belonged to a relative who possibly bought it from a museum or exhibition prior to 1920.

The bowl is about a foot long and has four legs. There is an animal head at either end. The animals could be cats, dogs, lizards, or something else, but the spots make me think of a jaguar or leopard.

I guess they might be pumas, but so far this object has not summoned an Aztec guy to give me a belt that lets me fly.

There are no markings on the bottom.

One side was apparently broken at some point and glued back together, but I do not know when that occurred.

Any ideas on where this came from? It could be some pre-Columbian pottery. The original owner lived in Cuba and Panama, so it's possible it was made in Central America.

2 Upvotes

3 comments sorted by

1

u/AutoModerator 10h ago

Hello, thank you for posting. Your post has been successful. For your benefit, and for the readers of this page, we have included a link to our strict AGE RULE: Read here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/mking543007 ✓ 10h ago

Could you add clear photos of the bowl from all sides, including the interior, underside, legs, animal heads, decorative details, and the repaired break? Please also confirm the material and exact dimensions; since there are no visible bottom marks, those details may help distinguish a pre-Columbian object from a later revival or decorative piece.