A calabash bowl encircled by a silver mounting and engraved with superb idyllic scenes from the colonial era in a lavish setting, and destined for a "sub-prefect of Lucanas", one of the eleven provinces of the Ayacucho region of Peru. In Jean Roudillon's notes: "Pre-Hispanic America, 16th / 17th century Peru Bowl cut from a gourd, engraved with a Renaissance-inspired décor of flowering branches, birds, monkeys, Indians shooting birds with bows, Europeans picking fruit and Europeans following a heavily laden mule. The background features a rose window and the border is inscribed in Spanish with the words "dedicado pa el sr dr jose manuel caceres sub prefeto de lucanas". Silver mount with cut edge and pearl band, two movable rings in the mouth of a lion in high relief. Former Boban and Le Kalevala collection. Probably 18th century or earlier Calabash, silver, old oxidation, excellent condition D. 20 cm and H. 6 cm Provenance: - Eugène Boban Collection (the oldest French dealer in early American art, born in 1834 and deceased in 1908, whose provenance has become mythical) - Le Kalevala Collection - Jean Roudillon Collection