Skip to main content
Close
Vilcek Foundation
  • About
    • About

      The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation of the arts and sciences.

    • Our Mission
    • Board & Staff
    • Press Center
    • Contact
  • Prizes
    • Prizes

      The Vilcek Foundation Prizes are awarded to foreign-born individuals for extraordinary achievement in the arts and sciences.

    • About the Prizes

      Learn more about the Vilcek Foundation Prizes and the prizewinners.

    • Vilcek Prizes

      Awarded to immigrants with a legacy of major accomplishments.

    • Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise

      Awarded to young immigrant professionals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement early in their careers.

    • Vilcek Prize for Excellence

      Awarded to immigrants who have had a significant impact on American society, or to individuals who are dedicated champions of immigrant causes.

    • Prize Recipients
    • Grants for Organizations
  • Art
  • Events
  • News
Sign Up Search
Home > Art > Costa Rican Diquis Peg-Base Figure

Costa Rican Diquis Peg-Base Figure

Ceramic standing figure with exposed teeth, tongue out, and snake wrapped around its waist, holding a head.
Artist

Unknown Artist

Date

600-900 CE

Medium

Volcanic stone

Object Type

Sculpture

Dimensions

H- 28 x W- 10 x D- 5 in. (71.1 x 25.4 x 12.7 cm)

Collecting Area

Pre-Columbian

Credit Line

The Vilcek Foundation

Accession Number

2003.04.1

Copyright

© The Vilcek Foundation

Tags
costa rica figure stone Trophy head volcanic stone warrior
Share this page
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
Ceramic standing figure with exposed teeth, tongue out, and snake wrapped around its waist, holding a head.

About the Object

The warrior seen here and carved in volcanic stone holds a human head with both hands, likely indicating warfare, a ritual sacrifice, or perhaps both. The figure is also notable through the carved representation of a belt, or tanga, two leg bands (likely a battling ornament), and possibly a stylized helmet. Finally, the warrior stands upon a pedestal base that may have been intended to affix the erect figure more permanently to the ground.

 

Additional Information

The archaeological division of Costa Rica falls into three style regions: the Guanacaste–Nicoya (northwest), the Central Highlands–Atlantic Watershed (east), and the Diquis (southwest). In addition to fostering an intrinsic relationship between agricultural and religious iconography, the rivalry for control of resources among ancient Costa Rican traditions is also thought to have caused these traditions to place great value on military power and warrior symbols. This is especially apparent in the sculptural figures uncovered in the Diquis region.

[Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, NY];
The Jan T. and Marica Vilcek Collection, 2003-2010;
Gift to The Vilcek Foundation, 2010;

Tags
costa rica figure stone Trophy head volcanic stone warrior
Share this page
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Related Objects

Costa Rican Headhunter Figure

700-1000 CE (?) Unknown Artist
Stone sculpture of a man holding a small head and a tool, wearing a helmet and a belt.

Costa Rican Peg-Base Figure

600-900 CE Unknown Artist
Stone figure wearing a necklace and loincloth, with an open mouth revealing teeth and incised arms at each side.

Aztec (Mexica) Seated Figure

1200-1500 CE (Post Classic-Late Post Classic/Early Aztec-Late Aztec B Periods) Unknown Artist
Sculpture of a man seated with crossed legs and wearing a large headdress and long, intricate earings; his mouth is open as if he is in mid-speech.

Costa Rican Jaguar Metate

600-900 CE Unknown Artist
Stone metate carved in the shape of a jaguar with monkeys between its legs.

Teotihuacan Goddess/God of Fertility

250-450 CE (Early Tlamimlolpa Micaotli-Early Xolapan Periods) Unknown Artist
Seated stone figure with an elaborate headdress, garment, and ear spools.

Costa Rican Kneeling Shaman Figure

600-900 CE Unknown Artist
Stone sculpture of man kneeling on one knee, holding a small dish, wearing a beaded necklace and headdress.

Mezcala Temple

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Sculpture of a four column temple with a reclining figure on the top and a staircase carved into the base.

Mezcala Standing Figure

Unknown Unknown Artist
Small abstract stone carving of a standing human figure.

Chontal Standing Figure

Unknown Unknown Artist
A standing green stone figure with arms crossed and small, hollow facial features.

Costa Rican Vessel and Lid

Unknown Unknown Artist
Vessel with stylized relief of two identical human heads on either side.

You may also be interested in

Meleko Mokgosi

Meleko Mokgosi receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fine Arts for paintings that rely on intensive research, reflection, and conversation in order to address widespread misrepresentation of Africa and Africans, and to accurately portray the continent’s complex social and political realities.
Portrait of Meleko Mokgosi

Iman Issa

Iman Issa receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fine Arts for exploring, through works of various media, difficult philosophical questions, such as the individual’s relationship to places, figures, and events that are collectively familiar, or the difference between experience and recognition.
Portrait of Iman Issa

Join our mailing list

Sign Up
Vilcek Foundation
21 East 70th Street
New York, New York 10021

Phone: 212.472.2500

Email: info@vilcek.org

  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board and Staff
    • Press Center
    • Contact
  • Prizes
    • Vilcek Prizes
    • Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise
    • Vilcek Prize for Excellence
    • Prize Recipients
    • Grants for Organizations
  • Art
  • Events
  • News
  • Careers
Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Vimeo
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2022   Vilcek Foundation