Lot 2020
Pre-Colombian Costa Rican Figure with Trophy Heads
Sold June 27, 2025
- Price realized
- $180
Price realized is the winning bid (hammer price) and excludes buyer’s premium.
About this lot
Estimated Value: $600-2000
Origin: Pre-Colombian Guanacaste or the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Dimensions: 10.5×4.5×16 in.
Condition: Wear and dirt marks from time, as well as light cracking around its arm, and its feet where the toes are have some cracking as well and look to have been glued back on.
Additional Information: A heavy volcanic stone carved Pre Colombian headhunter figure with two trophy heads. One and is lowered holding the heads and the other is raised. The stone is a brown gray color and has a rough feel.
These figures were used to demonstrate dominance, particularly in warfare and ritual contexts. They were believed to symbolize the victory over an enemy, and the trophy head itself could have been seen as a potent symbol of spiritual power or a cherished relic of a revered ancestor. These figures were also used to represent the ritualistic practice of trophy head taking, which was often associated with violence and the belief that taking a head could diminish the vitality of the individual’s family and increase that of the taker.
Lot details
- Lot
- 2020
- Closed
- June 27, 2025
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