Pre-Columbian Nariño Ceramic Bowl – Radial Anthropomorphic Motif

Culture: NariñoDate: ca. 800–1500 CEMedium: Hand-built ceramic with resist-slip decorationDimensions: Height: 3 3/4"; Diameter: 7 1/8"Region: Nariño Highlands, southern Colombia An exceptional Pre-Columbian ceramic bowl from the Nariño culture of highland southern Colombia, dating from circa 800–1500 CE. This expertly hand-shaped vessel is decorated using a resist-slip technique, revealing a dynamic composition of four stylized human figures arranged radially around a central starburst or floral element. Each figure is rendered in bold, geometric abstraction with raised arms and angular legs, suggesting dance or ritual movement. The negative painting reveals ochre-colored figures against a deep brown background, framed by red linear elements that emphasize radial energy and motion. The bowl is burnished and mounted on a wide pedestal base, a form often associated with ceremonial use. The visual power and symmetrical precision of the design make this an iconic example of Nariño ceramic