**Originally Listed At $4500**

Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed region, ca. 1st to 5th century CE. An enormous flying panel ceremonial metate, expertly carved from a single piece of volcanic stone with refined dimensions and intricately shaped zoomorphic embellishments. The flat metate face is slightly recessed and surrounded by a thick border decorated with a fringed lower edge. The metate itself is supported by three thick conical legs. On the underside is a large, abstract serpent form that seems to slither along a flat support band that joins two of the legs together. Size: 33.5" L x 17.2" W x 13.75" H (85.1 cm x 43.7 cm x 34.9 cm)

This ceremonial metate carved from volcanic stone represents one of the most unusual traditions of the ancient Americas. While some metates were used as grinding slabs, others showing more intricate designs like this example were intended for ritualistic ceremonies and as burial offerings. It has also been suggested that some metates were actually used as thrones for rulers to sit on. The iconographic/decorative program of this metate suggests a ceremonial function. The ornament may be related to the owner the piece or the ritual in which the metate was used. Alongside the jaguar, the serpent was the most important symbolic animal in ancient Central America.

For a stylistically-similar example featuring primarily jaguars, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1986.200: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/314952

Provenance: private Sneed collection, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA collection, collected before 2005

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#145021

Repaired from multiple large pieces with resurfacing and adhesive residue along break lines. Minor abrasions to top, legs, and carved animals, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations within some recessed areas. Light earthen deposits throughout.