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Friction stone

Small, sculptured rubbing table depicting a cat-like creature. The stone object consists of a rectangular base and four conical legs. Its flat worktop is surrounded by a steep edge. Two large, zoomorphic protomes, which represent the head of a feline, are attached to its rounded narrow sides. The realistic decorations have oval eyes and small ears. Two curved, arched elements emanate from their slightly open mouths and are connected to the neighbouring legs. They symbolise a split tail, the opposite ends of which form two spiral motifs. The two head protomes appear to be repeated on the lower edge of the worktop as small, stylised appliqués. The restored object has several broken and missing parts. Its fragmented worktop shows hardly any signs of use. (Künne 2005) Further information on the social, symbolic and cultural significance, as well as on the find context and periodisation could not be integrated into the long description due to technical problems at Museum Plus.

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Friction stone
Dimensions
Objektmaß: 13 x 27,2 x 35,1 cm
Andere Maße: Stärke (Arbeitsfläche): 2,0 cm
Material/Technique
Stone
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
IV Ca 41861

Provenance and sources

when
500 - 1550
where
Costa Rica
Cartago [Provinz]
Capelladas [Ort]

who
Lehmann, Walter - Collectors

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