Description:

Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. Hand-carved from a single piece of grey volcanic stone, this is a large ceremonial metate and accompanying round-edged grinding stone. The edges are scalloped, and the metate stands on three cylindrical legs. The grinding surface of the metate is deeply curved and thin. Metate technology developed initially for the utilitarian purpose of grinding corn; however, they evolved into meaningful ritual objects and ones with animal iconography were even used to seat a departed lord on his journey to the afterlife. Size of metate: 23.75" L x 17.5" W x 12.25" H (60.3 cm x 44.4 cm x 31.1 cm)

Provenance: private Hank Johnson collection, Denver, Colorado, USA; ex HD-Enterprise, Denver, Colorado, USA

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#129730

  • Condition: Intact, with weathered surface and signs of use.

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December 20, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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