Pre-Columbian Costa Rican Stone Metate + Mano

Pre-Columbian, Mexico to Costa Rica, ca. 300 to 1200 CE. An impressive tripodal metate and mano, carved from volcanic stone. The metate is supported by three legs and a has a gently sloped surface for grinding on - the stone itself is a porous gray basalt. Alternatively, the mano is pecked from a pinkish stone- the cuboid form is thick and hefty, with flattened ends. Metates are similar to mortar and pestles in that they were developed initially for the utilitarian purpose of grinding herbs and corn; however, metates evolved into meaningful ritual objects, some were traditionally used to seat a departed lord on his journey to the afterlife. Size of metate: 16.2" L x 13.5" W x 9.5" H (41.1 cm x 34.3 cm x 24.1 cm)

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-private Estate collection, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, acquired 1960 to 2024

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#185498
Condition Report: Old chips to peripheries of metate, and nicks and abrasions to both metate and mano commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, both are intact with nice earthen deposits and encrustations.