Pre-Columbian, Caribbean, Taino culture, Arawak People, ca. 15th century CE. A superb hand-carved stone figural effigy in ovoid form presenting a highly stylized figure known as a zemi. The zemi crouches with his slender legs folded inward and his arms resting upon his chest. Covered by a hood or arching headdress, the round visage displays bulging eyes, a straight nose, and a rounded, open mouth. This zemi is intact and is a beautiful example of this abstract anthropomorphic representation. Size: 5.5" L x 3.25" W (14 cm x 8.3 cm)
According to the Metropolitan Museum curatorial team, "Zemi refers not to an object or image but to an immaterial, spiritual, and vital force pertaining to deities and ancestors. There are several known zemi identities recorded by the Spanish, some of which have been linked to archaeological images."
Provenance: private J. S. collection, Sedona, Arizona, USA, acquired in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, in the 1980s
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#165908
Condition
Age expected surface wear consisting of nicks and abrasions, but otherwise intact and excellent.