Costa Rican Stone Effigy Metate, Atlantic Watershed Region Late Period IV-Period V, ca. A.D. 300-800

the oval platform supported on the long arms of the figure at each end, each with limbs bent sharply with fingers reaching to the face, the platform trimmed by small effigy heads.

William Downing Webster Collection, collected in 1897, inventory number "1245"
Augustus H. Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, Farnham, acquired from the above in 1898
Alexander Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, Farnham, by descent from the above
George H. Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, Farnham, by descent from the above
Stella Pitt-Rivers, Farnham, acquired from the above (Sotheby's, London, November 26, 1979, lot 5)
Fred Benson, African Sculpture Unlimited
Allan Stone, New York, acquired from the above in 1982

 

Overall very good, has old chipped loss on the rim on the right side of one head, between the head and the join to the upper arm. Otherwise intact. Label remaining on the bottom pertaining to the Webster collection. Also white ink number on the platform of 1245.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The lot is notable for its early provenance history in two important 19^th C. English collections. William Downing Webster (1868-1913), was one of the early dealers of ethnographic art, renown for the illustrated catalogues produced by the 1890’s particularly of African  and Oceanic art. He mainly acquired directly from collectors who bought in the field, as opposed to relying on the dissolution of museum collections (Waterfield and King 2006:59). 
Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers (1827-1900), was already a seasoned collector at the time he purchased this Costa Rican metate in 1898.  With remarkable vision and the desire to build an educational collection of archaeological and anthropological objects, he amassed  two large collections, comprising over 50,000 objects.  The first collection became the foundation of the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford  (1884). Continuing his educational intent, Pitt-Rivers started a second collection in 1880 which was kept in his private home in Farnham, Dorset. The Farnham collection was beautifully illustrated in nine volumes, now part of the Cambridge University Library (this lot is illustrated as “Mexican” on pl 1606). The Farnham museum closed in the 1960’s and was ultimately dispersed by the family.
This metate shows the influence of a southern style from the Barriles region of Panama, which occured in Costa Rica's Atlantic Watershed region during Period V. This is shown by the tiny heads trimming the perimeter, the human supports and the oval-shaped platform.