Costa Rica Carved Volcanic Stone Head

拍品描述

Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Costa Rica. A blunt, boulder-like head worked from a coarse, pale volcanic stone, its features reduced to the barest essentials: a broad wedge of a nose in high relief, shallow lenticular hollows for eyes, and a mouth incised as a single horizontal groove. Deep vertical channels ring the crown and sides, dividing the mass into lobes that likely render a banded coiffure or headwrap, and a rectangular slot is cut into the flattened top. The base is smoothed and slightly convex, wear consistent with a working surface, so the piece may have doubled as a grinding stone or handstone as well as an effigy. The vesicular, granular matrix has taken a soft earthen patina throughout, its high points burnished where handling and use abraded the tuff. Size: 4.5" H x 3.5" W x 4" D (11.4 cm H x 8.9 cm W x 10.2 cm D). Costa Rican lapidary traditions worked overwhelmingly in local volcanic rock, and the boundary between sculpture and ground-stone tool was porous. Metates, manos, and mace heads were routinely given anthropomorphic or zoomorphic terminations, so a functional implement could carry an effigy face without ceasing to be an implement. Effigy manos and pestle-form heads of this compact scale are documented across the Atlantic Watershed and Central Highland zones, where they occur in both domestic middens and burial contexts, a reminder that grinding maize was itself an activity dense with symbolic weight. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #203640

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