18th C. Peruvian Colonial Chamber Pot, Hammered Bacinica

拍品描述

South America, Peru, Spanish Colonial, ca. 1700–1799 CE. A Spanish Colonial chamber pot (bacinica) raised by hand from silver of approximately 96 percent purity. It has a squat, rounded body, a low foot ring, and a wide, flat flange rim that rolls outward. A simple loop handle, round in section, is attached below the rim. The interior shows the silversmith's work plainly: overlapping hammer facets catch the light across the walls and base, a texture a modern spun vessel never has. The outer surface carries a soft, uneven gray patina from long handling. Pieces like this were plain domestic luxuries. In a viceroyalty sitting on some of the richest silver deposits in the world, even the humblest household vessels could be made of precious metal. Size: 3.5" H x 6.5" W x 7.5" D (8.9 cm H x 16.5 cm W x 19.1 cm D); Silver quality: 96%; Weight: 630 grams. In the Viceroyalty of Peru, silver from Potosi and other Andean mines was everywhere. Contemporary travelers noted that wealthy households in Lima and Cuzco used silver for objects that Europeans would have made in pewter, earthenware, or wood, including braziers, basins, stirrups, and chamber pots. Silver chamber pots, called bacines or bacinicas, show up in colonial household inventories and dowry lists, where their value was often counted by weight. Much Peruvian domestic silver has no marks. By law, raw silver was supposed to pay the quinto real, the royal fifth, and finished work was supposed to be assayed and stamped. In practice, a great deal of silver was worked privately and never marked. As a result, unmarked pieces are usually dated by their form, how they were made, and their metal content rather than by hallmarks. Hand-raising, visible hammer work, and high-purity silver, often above sterling standard, are typical of colonial Andean workshops. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #205509

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