157 - - Vase depicting a hybrid deity

- Vase depicting a hybrid deity with the features of a jaguar and a snake with a forked tongue Polychrome terracotta; likely minor restoration not exceeding 5 to 10% of the total mass; signs of age. One broken piece that needs to be reattached. Jama-Coaque, Ecuador, 500 BCE – 500 CE 18 x 23 x 32.5 cm Thermoluminescence analysis by Archolabs TL, January 26, 2005. Provenance: Jouan SVV auction, Paris, November 22, 2005, lot no. 249. Standing on four powerful legs, this creature combines the fangs of a jaguar with the forked tongue of a snake. The long claws emphasize the strength of its stance. The ornamentation framing the head amplifies its presence, which is both stable and striking. The amalgamation of animal characteristics concentrates the attributes of several beings into a single supernatural power, in keeping with a recurring motif in Jama-Coaque art. The large, open vessel on its back completes this depiction and suggests a ceremonial use. Comparative reference: Brooklyn Museum, New York, Effigy Vessel, Jama-Coaque culture, inv. 88.57.2. A comparison of the depiction of a supernatural feline being carrying a vessel on its back. Our example is distinguished in particular by its long claws and the wider opening of the vessel.