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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Costa Rican Animal Sculptures : Stone Sculpture of a Double-Headed Jaguar
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Stone Sculpture of a Double-Headed Jaguar - PF.2418
Origin: Costa Rica
Circa: 1000
AD
to 1500
AD
Dimensions:
7.125" (18.1cm) high
x 11" (27.9cm) wide
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Style: Costa Rican
Medium: Stone
$6,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Costa Rican stonework represents some of the
finest craftsmanship in all of the Pre-Columbian
Americas. Carved from a single block of stone,
this double-headed jaguar presents a dynamic
image, a stunning example of the artist’s acute
sensitivity to the natural world. In ancient Costa
Rican society the jaguar was regarded as the
most powerful creature in the animal kingdom,
to be honored and revered it even had certain
divine characteristics. In ancient mythology the
most important God, Maira, was the sun during
the day, making the journey from east to west
across the land. At night, however, Maira
assumed the form of a jaguar and stealthily
made his way from the west back to the east,
where in the morning he would once again rise
in the form of the sun. Here, a pair of jaguars,
symmetrically opposed and each with artistically
incised forelegs and paws, exhibit a spirited
strength through their combined bodies and
massive heads. Twin faces complete with
snarling mouth and large, sharp fangs exude an
aura of primeval power that befits the animal’s
feline identity. Clearly, the commanding
presence of this ancient stone sculpture has
withstood the passage of time, exhibiting a
cosmic energy that is eternal in its ability to
touch our inner senses.
- (PF.2418)
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