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Sound head

Hollow, flattened head fragment. The object belonged to a small, anthropomorphic sculpture wearing an open headdress. There is a round opening at the back of the head. A ribbon-shaped eyelet is attached to the neck, which was used for suspension. The pottery was smoothed, slurried, primed, painted and polished. The primer and paint are partially eroded. The fragment has a white-brownish base colour, which is painted black and red. The flattened head shape possibly indicates a skull deformation. The figure has large, almond-shaped eyes. It appears to be wearing a black headband and red earrings. Its strongly accentuated nostrils and a red mouth mask indicate feline predatory characteristics. The back of the head has a black border. The eyelet is painted red. Ferrero (1975) and Healy (1980) refer to seated and standing anthropomorphic figures that can wear an open or closed headdress. Symbolic meaning: Stevenson-Day (1997) interprets the female sculptures of the Mora group as shamans. According to Lothrop 1926: highland polychrome ware. Cultural significance: the ceramics of the Mora group were produced in the north-west of Costa Rica and traded to the Central Highlands and the Atlantic region of the country. It uses design elements (seated anthropomorphic figures with headdresses, mat motif, Kan cross) that are also known from the Maya ceramics (Copador group) of the Clásico Tardío (900-600d.C.). The anthropomorphic figures of the Mora group show greater representational schematism compared to the anthropomorphic sculptures of the zoned bicoloured pottery (Rosales Esgrafiado) and the Policromo Antiguo (Galo Policromo group). (Künne 2004)

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Sound head
Dimensions
Objektmaß: 5,4 x 7,2 x 4,5 cm
Material/Technique
Sound
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
IV Ca 49151

Provenance and sources

when
Policromo Medio (800 - 1350)
where
Costa Rica
Punta Arenas [Provinz]
Chira [Insel]

who
Lehmann, Walter - Collectors

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