Tairona Vessel in the Form of a Masked Man, 800 CE - 1200 CE
Terracotta
13
PF.3832
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This powerful, ornate figure summons our attention immediately. He appears to be a highly revered shaman or medicine man in society. He holds a pestle in one hand and a...
This powerful, ornate figure summons our attention immediately. He appears to be a highly revered shaman or medicine man in society. He holds a pestle in one hand and a mortar in the other. The mask is a fierce, soul-penetrating jaguar head. Above the jaguar head is an extraordinarily ornate headdress. The designs indented in this figure are reminiscent of a jeweler's work, not of a sculptor's. The influence must have come from the beautiful, extremely skilled jewelry that was produced during this time. This figure could easily be considered a High Renaissance work of art. The designs have been created with a tremendous amount of expertise and ingenuity, which could only come from a refined artist. The ancient artist who created this masterpiece most probably devoted his life to art. The magnitude of energy that this figure exerts is almost frightening. We can only imagine what this vessel once held. The ancient world of rituals and rites long forgotten are embedded in this powerful shaman along with his shocking beauty and penetrating gaze.
Literature
V20