Basalt Sculpture of a Standing Woman Holding Her Breasts, 500 CE - 1000 CE
Basalt
36.75
PF.4718
Sometimes during this period extraordinary basalt statues began to appear. This marked a significant artistic innovation directly related to dramatic alterations in the political and social structure of Costa Rica....
Sometimes during this period extraordinary basalt statues began to appear. This marked a significant artistic innovation directly related to dramatic alterations in the political and social structure of Costa Rica. Many of these sculptures emphasized fertility and sexuality. This fabulous sculpture is overtly sexual, showing a naked female holding her breasts. The sacrificing is done in a checkerboard pattern flows around her neck and down the center of the upper arms. Her lovely cap is so finely textured it transcends the bounds of stone and appears like soft suede. Her hair is fringed at the forehead and falls straight down her back in a style seen in both men and women. Particularly interesting are the horizontal bars used for kneecaps, and small knobs to depict ankles. See-through holes in the ears also cleverly give the impression of large earspools. All of these attributes indicate this woman was a member of the upper class of society. From a sculptor's talented hands, volcanic stone was turned into a noble female figure, which is as powerful as the earth from which she was born.