Description:

Pre-Columbian, Colombia & Ecuador, La Tolita (sometimes Tumaco), ca. 600 BCE to 200 CE. A massive piece of bone carved into a crocodilian creature with an open mouth and a human figure relief carved into the animal's head- the size of the bone suggests a large animal such as a whale. The La Tolita culture occupied an area between the Saija River, in Colombia, and the San Mateo Bay, in Ecuador, a coastal area with numerous rivers - their familiarity with the American Crocodiles and Caimans of these waterways is clearly displayed in this piece. The 3 realms - earth, sky, and water were represented by powerful animals – the water was symbolized by crocodilians. The human upon the animal’s head likely playing the part of some cosmological myth or a shamanic transformation! Figural bone carvings like this example are exceptionally rare, perhaps from a whale washed upon the shore. Size: 9" L x 2.5" W x 2.5" H (22.9 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm)

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#174991

  • Condition: Repaired, with visible break lines and adhesive residue on snout. Natural bone ossification and pitting throughout.

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October 27, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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