Vessel, Pasto (Colombia), 17th century
Carved wood with Barniz de Pasto
19 × 10 × 9.5 cm
This 17th-century carved cedarwood bowl showcases the exquisite Barniz de Pasto technique, blending European Baroque, Andean, and Asian influences. Decorated with vibrant floral motifs, birds, and squirrels framed by intricate scrollwork, it features gold and silver leaf accents. Layers of mopa mopa resin, dyed with natural pigments, create a vivid, glossy finish. Popular among colonial elites, this bowl epitomizes the rich artistic fusion of the viceregal Americas.
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