Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico to Costa Rica, ca. 300 to 1200 CE. A 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: 16" L x 11" W x 8.5" H (40.6 cm x 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm)

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-private Arkansas, USA collection, via descent in 2021; ex-private Florida estate, USA, acquired from the 1960s to 1970s

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#174197

  • Condition: Old losses and chips to peripheries of metate face as shown. Earthen deposits and mineral encrustations to underside of metate. Old chips and abrasions to mano, otherwise intact.

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September 29, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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