Galo Polychrome Kneeling Male Figure - PF.3615, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 13.25" (33.7cm) high, Catalogue: V16, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Galo Polychrome Kneeling Male Figure - PF.3615, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 13.25" (33.7cm) high, Catalogue: V16, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta. This kneeling male figure comes from the Guanacaste-Nicoya polychrome tradition, the Galo polychrome style. Its mirror-bright burnished surfaces are technically unsurpassed by any Pre-Columbian pottery, and yellows, reds, oranges, creams, maroons, and blacks of the polychrome decorations are impressively vivid. Among such sculptures are the full human figures with elaborate representations of tattoos or body paint. Such brilliant polychrome tradition represent an important social dimension; when the northern trade network that brought jade, slate-backed pyrite mirrors, foreign ceramics, and other luxury goods, the nicoyans responded by producing their own special purpose pottery. Inspired by northern models, it also incorporated local and southern elements, forming a dazzling hybrid style that was traded around Central America and southern Meso-America in the centuries to come. This colorful and dazzling figure is covered with patterns and symbols, which indicate body painting or tattoo. Not only is the figure elaborately painted but it also shows various bodily ornamentation such as the knotted headband and the large earspools. The detailed enhancement suggests that the figure is a representation of a high ranking or an important person, perhaps a warrior, a chieftain, or a priest. His noble posture connotes pride and honor, and his shoulders and knees are further enhanced with coiling marks that perhaps indicate his status. This magnificent sculpture brings the brilliance of the ancient art and history to us in the most dramatic manner.   « Less

Galo Polychrome Zoomorphic Vessel - PF.3616, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 11.25" (28.6cm) high x 13.125" (33.3cm) wide, Catalogue: V16,  More »

Galo Polychrome Zoomorphic Vessel - PF.3616, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 11.25" (28.6cm) high x 13.125" (33.3cm) wide, Catalogue: V16, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Terracotta Trophy Head with a Handle - PF.3659, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD, Dimensions: 10.25" (26.0cm) high, Catalogue: V16, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Terracotta Trophy Head with a Handle - PF.3659, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD, Dimensions: 10.25" (26.0cm) high, Catalogue: V16, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta. This very handsome vessel is distinguished by the use of color carefully placed for maximum effect. Touches of black around the eyes make them appear even more penetrating. White lines running vertically, at right angles and in a chevron shape decorate both the main body of the vessel and the two faces on the handle. Such precise patterns probably represent ritual body paint used by members of religious cults. The small heads are not only powerful in their own right, but also serve to give greater dimension and strength to the vessel as a whole. As with most objects of superb quality, this vessel was probably owned by a member of the upper classes who must have enjoyed, as we do, its lovely proportions, fine balance and dramatic sense of mystery.   « Less

Seated Pregnant Figure - PF.3675, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 17.5" (44.5cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium:  More »

Seated Pregnant Figure - PF.3675, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 17.5" (44.5cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta. This striking image celebrates fertility, but reminds us that there is always pain. The pregnant woman sits upright and symmetrically with her hands clutching her distended stomach. The surface of the clay is incised with decoration resembling tattoos, and the whole body is attractively painted with rich browns and russet. The power of the sculpture is undeniable, and its subject could well be a woman of great tribal importance, denoted by the scale of the piece and her headwear and decoration. Could a proud descendant to honour a worthy ancestor have modeled this piece?   « Less

Guanacaste-Nicoya Sculpture of a Kneeling Woman - PF.3697, Origin: Guanacaste-Nicoya Zone, Costa Rica, Circa: 1 AD to 500 AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Collection:  More »

Guanacaste-Nicoya Sculpture of a Kneeling Woman - PF.3697, Origin: Guanacaste-Nicoya Zone, Costa Rica, Circa: 1 AD to 500 AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Guanacaste-Nicoya, Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Stone Mortar - PF.3703, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 12.25" (31.1cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Green Stone. The  More »

Stone Mortar - PF.3703, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 500 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 12.25" (31.1cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Green Stone. The stylized features on this mortar resemble alligator images seen on stone masks and standing figures from the same period. Most dramatic is the wide-open mouth revealing two rows of well-formed teeth, sharp fangs and tongue. Semi-circular creases on the cheeks show tightening of the skin, beside the curved snout or horn that touches the forehead. There is a geometric balance created by the circles of the nostrils, large eyes and tops of the ears. These eyes are simply fashioned by the use of an outer rim with no details within, yet the effect is very striking. Mortars, such as this powerful example, were most likely used for grinding foods or herbs for ritualistic purposes; perhaps connected with the many alligator cults which flourished in Costa Rica's ancient past.   « Less

Stone Sculpture of the Head of a Jaguar - PF.3711, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 100 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 10" (25.4cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Stone Sculpture of the Head of a Jaguar - PF.3711, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 100 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 10" (25.4cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Green Stone.   « Less

Olmec Stone Mask of a Were-Jaguar - PF.3718, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 900 BC to 500 BC, Dimensions: 6" (15.2cm) high, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone.

Olmec Stone Mask of a Were-Jaguar - PF.3718, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 900 BC to 500 BC, Dimensions: 6" (15.2cm) high, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone.   « Less

Tripod Vessel with Monkey Caryatides - PF.3757, Origin: Costa Rica (Atlantic Watershed), Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 20" (50.8cm) high, Catalogue: V20, Collection:  More »

Tripod Vessel with Monkey Caryatides - PF.3757, Origin: Costa Rica (Atlantic Watershed), Circa: 500 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 20" (50.8cm) high, Catalogue: V20, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Terracotta Trophy Head - PF.3759, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta.

Terracotta Trophy Head - PF.3759, Origin: Costa Rica, Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Catalogue: V18, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Terracotta.   « Less