Costa Rican Jade Figure with Articulated Head, Atlantic Watershed zone Late Period IV, ca. A.D. 1-500

carved and drilled for attachment of the separate small head wearing a round bird-mask with tiny drilled eyes flanking the hooked beak, the top of head showing tufted feathers, the hands indicated on the waist, the legs and outturned feet finely incised.

Máximo Acosta Soto Collection
Acquired from the above by the present owner's family in 1959

San Diego, Fine Arts Gallery and Society of San Diego, February- March 1969

Excellent, as shown.
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This unique depiction of an avian-masked figure is an important manifestation of the mythology of shamanic avian transformation. The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is the most frequently portrayed bird of prey which may be portrayed here. A cord-sawing technique was used for the openwork limbs, but the unusual separated head may be an adaptation in the initial carving process. For other masked figural pendants, see Jones (1998: Pls. 54,69).