Costa Rican Stone Female Figure, Atlantic Watershed Region Period VI, Circa AD 1000-1500

A proud female figure demurely cupping each breast is one of the important types of large free-standing stone sculptures from lower Central America. The male figures often display the prowess of warriors, holding axes and trophy heads, while female figures were shown in this breast-holding stance, a posture that signified fertility and abundance. The figure is unadorned but has a trance-like expression and long coiffure flowing down the back of her head. The details of her youthful physiognomy include modeled knees, ankles and clavicles.

For similar figures, see Julie Jones, Michael Kan, and Michael J. Snarskis, eds.; Between Continents/Between Seas: Precolumbian Art of Costa Rica, Detroit, 1981, p. 124, cat. nos. 220-221. See also Sotheby’s, New York, May 7, 2016, lot 125.