Dominican Republic, Large Taino celt carved with a face
A large ceremonial celt with a deity face and cone-shaped headdress and hands held to stomach. Similar pieces are illustrated in Herrera Fritot, Rene, Estudio De Las Hachas Antillanas (La Habana Cuba: , 1964) , 146. pages 140-144
Period: Dominican Republic, NeolithicTaino, circa 1000-400 BC
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Length 12" x 3" (30cm x 8cm)
Price Upon Request
N1042
Dominican Republic, Pre-Taino Stone Double-Bitted Axe
This type of large, worked stone double-bitted axe can be assigned to the "Courian Subseries," a classification designating the period that ended some time just after the Lithic Age and just before the Ceramic Age. These large axe heads, used in combat, were strapped to a large staff with strips of leather. A similar example is illustrated and discussed in Irving Rouse’s "The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus,†Yale University Press, 1992, pg. 56, fig.16d. With some natural wear.
Period: Dominican Republic, Courian Subseries, circa 2000BC-AD250
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Width 7"
$2,250
94312
Dominican Republic, Shell Dagger from the Estate of Fred Olsen
This dagger is illustrated in ON THE TRAIL OF THE ARAWAKS by Fred Olsen, p.192. Olsen explains that "repeated handling shows that the object best fits the hand as a dagger, with the index finger placed over the protuberance to guide a powerful down stroke." He also states that it was cut from the lip of a conch shell and finished with a sharp point. The dagger resembles the form of an abstract animal, likely the anteater (Tamandua T. tetradactyla), which is found on Antigua. Fred Olsen collection, by descent to his grandson prior to 1967.
Period: St Johns, Antigua c. AD 900-1300
Media: Shell
Dimensions: Length: 9"
$5,750
n9028
Dominican Republic, TaÁno Sandstone Three-pointer carved as Yocahú, Lord of Cazabe
Three-pointers are among the most prized objects from the Greater Antilles. Known as zemis to the anceint TaÃno, Columbus observed them placed on stools beside chiefs, and he was told they were spirits in charge of good weather and good crops and to help women in childbirth. Three-pointer zemis were fertility stones related to the rejuvenation of the earth and the populace. This three-pointer portrays a grimacing deity with his hind legs curled behind him on the other side of the sculpture. Although grimacing, skeletal faces are characteristic of TaÃno art, and when they occur on three-pointers they have been identified as Yocahú, Lord of the Sky and the patron spirit of Cazabe---yuca---the staple crop of the TaÃno. This sculpture was executed with good proportions, and the mouth and eye sockets once had inlays of shell or perhaps discs of gold. A similar example in whitish sandstone is illustrated by Jacques Kerchace, ed. in 'L'art TaÃno' (1994: 292). Jesse Fewkes, who thoroughly studied and assembled photographs of TaÃno art for the Smithsonian created a typology for three-pointers, in which this particular zemi belongs to the First Type, and his report includes a number of related examples (1907: pls. XXXV - XXXVII).
Period: Dominican Republic, Taino, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Length 10" x Height 91/2"
$22,000
M3055
Dominican Republic, Taino Carved Shell Bat Deity Amulet
This bat deity amulet features a stylized human figure with bat-like features, such as large ears and a pug nose. There are two suspension holes below each ear. This amulet was likely originally the central bead on a larger beaded necklace.
Period: Dominican Republic, Taino, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Shell
Dimensions: Height: 1 1/2"
$2,250
98149
Dominican Republic, Taino ceramic rose-orange bowl with Anthropomorphic Head Adornos
This is a particularly well-crafted ceramic vessel, fired at high temperatures. The two Adorno heads at either end clearly represent a zoomorphic bat, indicated by the winged shoulders at the rim.
Period: Dominican Republic, Taino, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Width: 7 1/2"x Height: 3 3/4"
Condition: Very good. One Adorno was broken at the neck and re-attached. All parts original.
Price Upon Request
MM003
Dominican Republic, Taino Large Ceramic Vessel with Winged Bats
Large feasting bowl. The Taino and their predecessors held large festivals in the plazas of their communities, in which singing, dancing and ballgames could last for days. Part social and part ritual, shamans and chiefs would go into trances to communicate with spirits and ancestors during festivals. The bat is a common motif in Taino art and symbolized spirits and ancestors in the otherworld. This particular type of vessel is found in the Dominican Republic. A similar vessel with flaring winged bats from the collection of the Fundacion Garcia Arevalo is illustrated in "El murcielago y la lechuza en la cultura taina" (1988: 8).
Period: Dominican Republic, Taino, Classic Period, circa AD1000-1500
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Height: 5" x Diameter: 11" inches
$7,500
99524
Dominican Republic, Taino Necklace Composed of Operla Snail Shells
These cone snail (gastropoda Conidae) shells were by the ancient Taino as beads and would have been worn on necklaces by people of high wealth and status. The beads are ancient, but this necklace is modern assembled, with a design that resembles an ancient necklace.
Period: Dominican Republic, Taino, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Shell
Dimensions: Length: 21"
$3,200
99376
Dominican Republic, Taino Pez Espina (Fish Spine) Bone Necklace
A necklace of almost 90 snake fish spinal bones, each with a perforated hole on top for stringing. This is a particularly large example of this type of necklace. The stringing is contemporary, copied from 16th Century European lithographs.
Period: Dominican Republic, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Bone
Dimensions: Length 14"
$1,800
94301
Dominican Republic, Taino Stone Ceremonial Dagger in the Form of an Iguana
A ceremonial dagger that is carved exceptionally well, with original polished surface, depicting lizard characteristics such as a long snout, prominent nostrils and deep set eyes. The back depicts a defined jaw and hind legs pulled up into the body. There are only 2 similar shaped daggers that are illustrated: One in Estudio de Las Hachas Antillanas, page 143, and and one in L'ART DES SCULPTEURS TAINOS: Chefs-d'oeuvre des grandes Antilles Précolombienes, Paris 1994, plate 86. There are also two similar daggers in the Arivelo collection in Santo Domingo that are inferior and crudely sculpted.
Period: Dominican Republic, Taino, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Length: 11"
Price Upon Request
n8016
