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Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Atlantic watershed, ca. 1000 to 1500 CE. A fantastical figure of a man, carved from porous volcanic stone, depicted nude and holding a snake in his mouth as its body wraps around his extended arm. The man is carved with a detailed face, feet, and phallus. The man’s body has exaggeratedly large arms and hands. The snake also has wonderful details, with a scale pattern on its body as it wraps around the man. Size: 6.75″ W x 12.35″ H (17.1 cm x 31.4 cm)
Pre-Columbian Costa Ricans created carved volcanic stone sculptures whose subjects are often accompanied by animals, especially those who are aggressive or dangerous, like crocodiles, jaguars, or, like this fellow, snakes. This figure’s close association with an animal probably indicates that he is a shaman, someone who could transform himself to visit the spirit world, often associated in ancient Central America with close proximity to the animal world.
Condition: Intact, with a weathered surface commensurate with age. Nice preservation of form.
Provenance: ex-Alan Davis collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA before 2000
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