Pre-Columbian, Isthmus/Northern Colombia, International Group, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. A finely cast gold shaman comprised of 80% gold (equivalent to 18K+) with severely angular shoulders standing upon widespread legs with bent knees, playing a flute held in his left hand and holding a kero in his right, his visage featuring coffee bean shaped eyes, a prominent nose, earspools, and a wide mouth, crowned by a magnificent, openwork, spiraled headdress. His body is nude with delineated nipples and genitalia, though further ornamented with knee bands and a waist tie or belt. Additional attention to detail is evident in the delineated long, slender fingers and toes. There is an integral gold suspension ring behind the neck. Size: 1.75" H (4.4 cm); Weight: 19.4 grams
A similar figure sold at Sotheby's New York for $43,750 (16 May 2014, lot 218) - http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/african-oceanic-n09146/lot.218.html
The Sotheby's listing notes, "The International Group includes anthropomorphic figures which are found from central Colombia to northern Costa Rica; a single metallurgical province in antiquity (Hearne and Sharer 1992:39). The figures holding ceremonial objects such as poporos or gourds (in this case flute and kero) are a particular category that reflect the influence of the Quimbaya style and the technology of lost-wax casting. The shared iconography that appears throughout this region attests to the importance of a shaman or performer shown in a realistic form."
Provenance: ex-private West Palm Beach, Florida, USA collection
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#144004
Condition
Traces of red iron deposits in the recesses. Overall, most excellent!