Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Earliest Horizon, Valdivian, ca. 2300 to 2000 BCE. An endearing owl relief depicting both the head with its wide-eyed visage as well as its trapezoidal body and perched feet, all skillfully carved with strong lines from a pale grey limestone with nice manganese deposits and burnishing marks. The minimalist aesthetic truly appeals to our modern sensibilities; how remarkable for a piece that is 4000+ years old. Custom stand. Size: 4.75" W x 8.5" H (12.1 cm x 21.6 cm); 9.5" H (24.1 cm) on stand

Ancient stone steles from Ecuador like this example are the oldest stone sculptures known to exist in the Americas, dating as far back as 3500 BCE. Certainly each stele is unique; however, they do share a few common characteristics. They are usually carved from a pearly grey colored stone and are for the most part "blockish" in form. The four most prominent themes include the owl, the serpent/arrow, the sun chart, and the star chart.

The owl was widely symbolic in the Pre-Columbian world. Owls were considered Shamanic, guiding humans on their journeys to other worlds, the divine, and death. In some cultures an anthropomorphic owl represented a warrior or war god. As a nocturnal bird of prey, the owl was also associated with night hunters, darkness, and the Underworld.



Provenance: Ex-private Arizona, USA collection

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#118808

  • Condition: A few small chips to peripheries as shown. Expected surface wear with a few abrasions and losses. Areas of manganese and burnishing marks.

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April 12, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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