A Superb and Large Chiriquí Warrior or Chieftain...

Description

A Superb and Large Chiriquí Warrior or Chieftain
Costa Rica, c. 300-800 AD

Standing on an integral inverted dome base, this powerful figure holds a severed head in the proper left hand and a short club or staff in the right. He is otherwise nude except for a short skirt at the waist, with side flaps marked by raised roundels and leaving the genitals exposed. A tight conical cap covers the head. Carved from dense tan volcanic stone, the figure has a strong frontal presence and unusual scale. A commanding example, notable for its size, sculptural force, and iconography.

A sculptural tradition centered on warriors and displays of power likely emerged in ancient Costa Rica in response to increasing competition for resources. Figures of this type, shown in rigid frontal stance and holding trophy heads or weapons, are understood to represent elite individuals-warriors or chieftains-whose authority was expressed through martial imagery and ritual display. The conical headdress and formalized pose align with a broader visual language of rank and power seen across Central America and into northern South America. In very good condition; minor chips to the reverse of the skirt. Mounted to a base.

Note:
Similar to an example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Object Number: 1979.206.422

Provenance:
The Vilcek Foundation

Height: 36 ½ inches

Estimate: $150,000 - $250,000.

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