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Clay figure

Bimorph, solid figure with an oversized, flattened head. The very small object has a flat base and can be set up. Its back was left largely unpainted. The figure was smoothed, sanded, primed, painted and polished. The primer and paint are partially eroded. The ceramic has a white-brownish base colour, which was painted black-brown and red. On the legs, body, arms and head are fields with geometric motifs that suggest textile or wickerwork. Although the feline-like head and a red mouth mask indicate the zoomorphic character of the figure depicted, its posture displays anthropomorphic attributes. According to Lothrop 1926: highland polychrome ware. Cultural significance: the ceramics of the Mora group were produced in north-west 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 Guabal variant 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
Clay figure
Dimensions
Objektmaß: 6,1 x 3,4 x 2 cm
Material/Technique
Sound
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
IV Ca 41610

Provenance and sources

when
Policromo Medio (800 - 1350)
where
Costa Rica
Guanacaste [Provinz]
Santa Cruz [Kanton]
Santa Bárbara [Ort]

who
Lehmann, Walter - Former Possessors

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