Costa Rican Stone Metate with Jaguar

Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Pacific Slope, Diquis/Nicoya region, ca. 900 to 1530 CE. A wonderful jaguar metate with an oval grinding table or seat, expertly carved from one piece of volcanic stone with refined dimensions and intricately incised details. The sculptor of this piece successfully created an expressive countenance for the jaguar; just look at those gnashing teeth/fangs, alert ears, and snarling snout as he stands proudly on four legs with bent the knees to imply motion, and a long curled tail. Note the stylized woven, scale-like motif adorning the back of the jaguar's neck, continuing around the ovoid seat's/grinding surface's periphery, and over the wild feline's tail. Truly one of the most magnificent examples we have ever had the pleasure of handling, replete with impressive style, technique, and iconography. Size: 11.3" L x 5.9" W x 4.2" H (28.7 cm x 15 cm x 10.7 cm)

Metates were initially created to grind foods such as corn, certainly a utilitarian purpose, as well as hallucinogenic substances, medicines, etc. for ceremonial rituals; however, they evolved into meaningful ritual objects in and of themselves, replete with strong iconography and intriguing sculptural forms have transformed these objects into much more than pragmatic tools. Examples of a larger scale with an impressive degree of decorative carving and iconographic symbolism were sometimes used to seat a departed lord on his journey to the afterlife. Jaguar imagery symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world; hence, warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World.

Provenance: ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired prior to 2000

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 to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#156533
Condition Report: Small area of loss to underside of plate body as shown. Light softening to some finer details and some encrustations. Great preservation of detailing throughout.