I purchased this from my favorite family-run cabinet of curiosities antique shop in New Hampshire, and based on other pieces in the estate collection it came from (including Olmec, Mayan and Peruvian Chancay pieces), I believe is Pre-Columbian, from Central or South America, and as shown it was found with an old tag on it noting 1500 BC, which would make it quite an early example. I have done a little looking around to try to more specifically place it, but haven't at all definitively. For me it is really all about the round bottomed form decorated with those finely painted orange-red horizontal stripes against near black, and the handle to one side, suggesting it would have been hung, perhaps from a strap on the body, holding something precious inside, perhaps a salve or ointment. I'm not an expert, but to my eye and sensibilities it is quite a beautiful thing, and among ancient things I am disposed toward valuing the small ones most, whose survival across the ages seems the most unlikely. And along with it I purchased this second tiny pot with recessed center, which makes kind of a nice base for the larger should one wish to stand it upright, so I'm selling them as one.

Vessel 3 5/8" t x 2 3/8" d. Flat pot  2" d x 1"t. Ancient, with the patinas to prove it! Vessel shows some fine hairline cracks, as documented; there is a small patch of loss to the interior crust corresponding to the area of hairlines, and based on the pattern of cracks I have to think there was once some repair done there, but assuming so it was quite finely done. (See detail photos at end, shot with many times magnification.) Small pot shows very old edge losses all the way around and old inventory/accession number on underside. Sold as a pair.