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THBSuperb Costa Rican Stone Trophy Head
Lot 250
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:
$3,200 - $4,800
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|---|---|
| $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
May 11, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-05-11 10:00:00
2023-05-11 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-pre-columbian-ethnographic-art-12771
Classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (349)
- Lot Description
**Originally Listed At $1800**
Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica / Panama, ca. 100 to 500 CE. An evocative human "trophy" head, hand-carved from volcanic stone, strongly rendered with a solemn expression featuring sizable, closed eyes, a prominent arched brow line leading to a straight, broad nose and an open mouth exposing gritted teeth, all flanked by a pair of large relatively naturalistic ears. It is possible that this trophy head was created to represent a captured enemy who was sacrificed in order to bring about agricultural fertility. His flat-topped headdress is elaborately carved with linear and geometric motifs, likely to signify his elite social rank. His luxurious crown of curls is quite distinguished, and likely signified his elite rank. A fascinating reminder of the practice of taking trophy heads in ancient Costa Rica, replete with impressive artistry and technique as well as layers of historical meaning. Size: 7.5" W x 8.6" H (19 cm x 21.8 cm)
The practice of taking human heads for sacrifice to bring about agricultural prosperity and as warfare trophies was ubiquitous throughout Pre-Columbian Costa Rica. Traditionally "headhunting" has been interpreted as a somewhat incidental rather than central warfare practice; however, recent scholarship has suggested that headhunting added a significant magical and supernatural dimension to warfare and sacrifice. Each severed head was imbued with specific meaning and the act of taking the head was "consecrated and commemorated in some form" according to anthropologist and professor John W. Hoopes ("Sorcery and the Taking of Heads in Ancient Costa Rica" 2007). One look at this trophy head confirms Professor Hoopes theory. Clearly this piece exemplifies the practice of sacred commemoration!
Provenance: private Lexington, Kentucky, USA collection; ex-Andrew Jones collection; ex-Raymond Enkeboll collection, Los Angeles, California, USA
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.
#176974Small chips to nose and proper right ear, as well as expected nicks and abrasions. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive preservation of detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
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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. In most cases Artemis Gallery cannot ship to Australia and Germany, please inquire before bidding.
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