Terracotta Female Figurine

The sheer delight of this figurine makes her a focus for collectors who seek an alternative to the iconographically dense art of the Maya or Aztecs. Lively and content, she stands gallantly with her hands resting firmly at her waist. Either an important chieftess or shaman-chieftess, there are remarkable incised geometric designs covering her. The designs may represent the sacred web of the cosmos with east-west and north-south directions or have specific religious or political connotation. The incisions have been richly preserved for our enjoyment and admiration today. Her ear spools, bracelets and anklets were probably made of the most precious materials: jade, serpentine, or other greenstones, along with obsidian or gold. All of which had symbolism and meaning to the Ancient inhabitants of Costa Rica. During ceremonial rituals and festivities, this ancient figurine was likely to have been set on an altar or next to other sacred and significant relics. She stands before us as a witness of long forgotten sacred ceremonies with her lips slightly opened ready to share her testimony of a great and prosperous culture. – (PF.3124)