Description:

Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. A skillfully-detailed metate and mano set, both hand-carved from porous volcanic stone, the metate standing upon three intricate legs with hollow cavities. The curved grinding platform has a relatively smooth texture along the undecorated areas, and boasts a rectangular panel of dense rectangular motifs on one end. Beneath the platform are a pair of abstract tab-shaped projections which mimic the stylized avian forms so often seen in ancient Costa Rican art. The Mano is elongated and ovoid in form with two round ends and a coarse body for grinding; one side is incredibly smooth from countless uses. Size (metate): 17.5" L x 8.5" W x 9" H (44.4 cm x 21.6 cm x 22.9 cm); size (mano): 12.875" L x 2.3" W (32.7 cm x 5.8 cm).

Provenance: ex-private Pearson collection, Denver, Colorado, USA

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#143133

  • Condition: Back portion of metate reattached with small chips and light adhesive residue along break line. Minor nicks to legs, body, and mano, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout.

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March 7, 2019 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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