Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBCosta Rican Stone Standing Mythical Monkey Figure
Lot 83d
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
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,200 - $1,700
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| 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
Jan 24, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-01-24 10:00:00
2019-01-24 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Pre-Columbian / Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/pre-columbian-ethnographic-art-3814
Featuring ancient and ethnographic art from around the world, including Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Ethnographic, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Fine Art, much more. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring ancient and ethnographic art from around the world, including Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Ethnographic, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Fine Art, much more. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (371)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. A fantastical figure, carved from porous volcanic stone, depicting a man with a fierce, transformative monkey head, nude aside from a huge pectoral and a multi-tiered, pyramid-like headdress. The figure has well-carved genitalia and an emphasized lower body, crouched as if dancing. A skirt is also carved onto the upper thighs. The face is dramatic and a little bit frightening, with emphasis on the snout and wide-lipped grim. Size: 5.15" W x 11.25" H (13.1 cm x 28.6 cm)
This figure probably depicts a shaman channeling a monkey medium or in the act of transforming into a monkey. Pre-Columbian Costa Ricans carved volcanic stone sculptures that oftentime depicted animals, usually those who have symbolic meaning like crocodiles, snakes, jaguars, or, like this fellow, monkeys. Humans are depicted wearing items that may signify rank or show a social affiliation - presumably this figure's hat would have been instantly recognizable to people at that time. This figure's zoomorphic head indicates that he is a shaman, someone who could transform himself to visit the spirit world, often associated in ancient Central America with close proximity to the animal world.
Monkeys in ancient Costa Rican art were probably modeled on the native spider monkey, known for being inquisitive and chattering. They were figures of fun, but also are often associated with creation myths both in Central America and in the Mayan world, suggesting an almost evolutionary understanding of the monkey/human relationship. Various myths recount earlier worlds inhabited by monkeys rather than humans that were destroyed by cataclysms, making monkeys like proto-humans. Monkeys were often associated with writing and art, perhaps because of their observed intelligence.
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#141614Top of headdress might be lost. One arm is repaired. Neck may also be repaired, but repairs are so well done that it is difficult to tell. Weathering commensurate with age and some encrustation in the lower profile areas. Feet have traces of wax on them, presumably for securing in former display. Nice preservation of form and detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
