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THBCosta Rican Stone Standing Figure w/ Trophy Heads
Lot 193
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $7,500
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| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 24, 2022
Set Reminder
2022-03-24 10:00:00
2022-03-24 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (416)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed Period V, ca. 800 to 1000 CE. Skillfully carved from volcanic stone, a magnificent male headhunter standing tall and carrying a trophy head in each arm. Gazing forward from huge, coffee bean-shaped eyes, the fearsome hunter presents a stern visage with a broad, flat nose, and full, gently parted lips, all flanked by a pair of elongated ears and capped by an incised headband and braided coiffure. His strong body exhibits wide shoulders, a round mid-section, and long, straight legs. Each arm bends at the elbow, showcasing his horrifying bounty; his right resting a trophy head at his waist and his left holding another head up at his shoulder. A broad, horizontal band of stippling encircles his torso, representing a belt or girdle, as pectorals cover his chest. Note the artist's careful attention to detail, as evident in the figure's articulated fingers and toes, delineated genitalia, risen kneecaps, and the facial features of the trophy heads! Size: 10.9" W x 18.6" H (27.7 cm x 47.2 cm)
Headhunting was a popular theme in ancient Costa Rica. Ethnographic accounts from the region tell of a tradition of taking trophy heads during warfare that dates to both before and after the Spanish Conquest. War was engaged in order to acquire resources and consolidate control by leaders much like today; however, it also had a supernatural element. The taking of the head was directly related to shamanism, as a means of protecting the community from any evil, including disease and sorcery. Furthermore, a shaman's head was most coveted, as it was believed to retain power due to the shaman's supernatural abilities to communicate with deities and ancestors.
According to the British Museum, "Central America spawned a number of independent stone sculptural traditions taking advantage of a range of volcanic material that lent itself to shaping and detailing with harder stone hammers and chisels. On Costa Rica's Nicoya peninsula, both male and female subjects are represented in a narrow range of "archetypal" poses - the women as an embodiment of feminine fertility and the men asserting their prowess as warriors."
Cf. British Museum, Am1937,1113.1 and Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, 1991.004.034.
Provenance: private Netanya, Israel collection, acquired before 1991
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#169484Restoration to proper left foot. Expected nicks, chips, and abrasions throughout, commensurate with age. Light softening of detail to face and heads. Otherwise, excellent with nice earthen deposits.Condition
- Shipping Info
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