Description:

Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Tairona culture, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. A fantastical anthropomorphic figure carved via the string-cut technique from a pale greenstone. The figure is cylindrical with a rounded head. The face and headdress/coiffure take up roughly half of the length of the body; two hands clasped over the stomach, incised legs, and an erect phallus comprise the rest of the figure. The face has diamond-shaped eyes and a mouth full of long, straight, huge teeth, giving the human-like form a startlingly zoomorphic feature. The Tairona, a group of chiefdoms in a mountainous part of Colombia, are known for their dramatic artistic representations of humans, animals, and supernatural figures. The latter are particularly common in Tairona artwork, which we believe from ethnographic sources to relate to religious transformation of man into beast. Size: 1.4" W x 6.05" H (3.6 cm x 15.4 cm)

Provenance: private Stagecoach, Nevada, USA collection; acquired from 1985 to present from galleries such as Arte Primitivo, Art For Eternity, Butterfields, and Riverbend Gallery

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#128795

  • Condition: Light surface wear commensurate with age, with small surface chips, especially on the legs. A handwritten note saying "Tairona" is on the underside of the base. Light encrustation in lower profile areas.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

January 4, 2018 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$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
$200,000 + $25,000