TAINO CULTURE ATABEY TRANSFORMATION FIGURE

Taino. Lizard or bird woman transformation. Hands pushing belly and squatting position suggests a reference to Atabey, primary goddess of fertility. Support holes at neck and shoulders creates a simple bird head. When reversed the spirit portals at elbows and roundels on behind create a fantasy face. From a private collection curated by Larry Roberts. Made of a metamorphic schist like stone. From the Taino Culture dating c1000-1500 AD. Measures 4 1/2 inches. This lot has a reserve.