A published Costa Rican Owl-Form Quartz Mace Head, ca. 500 - 1000 CE

A superb example of a Pre-Columbian ceremonial mace head, carved in the form of an owl’s head from dense, veined brownish-gray quartz naturally flecked with crystalline white. The head is rounded and compact, pierced vertically with a shaft hole for attachment to a wooden staff.

Dominating the front are two large circular eyes, carefully carved to take advantage of the high concentration of white mineral inclusions, resulting in a striking contrast against the darker matrix and imbuing the piece with a penetrating, expressive gaze. A lightly incised line subtly outlines the facial features, including the narrowed beak and brow. Small pointed ear tufts crown the head, stylized and projecting slightly. The surface is finely smoothed and polished, enhancing both the form and natural patterning of the stone.

Non-functional and purely ceremonial, such mace heads were symbols of authority and lineage. Each example was likely clan-specific, with animals such as monkeys, bats, snakes, and owls identifying the bearer’s ancestral group. The owl, rendered here with refinement and symbolic intensity, was associated in ancient Costa Rican belief systems with death, shamanic transformation, warrior castes, and the messengers of the underworld. It served as a liminal figure, connected to warrior societies and shamanic practices.

This example, with its careful execution and powerful iconography, would have belonged to a high-status individual from the owl clan, and was likely buried with the owner to signify their enduring identity and role within the spiritual hierarchy of their society.

For a parallel, see: Rebecca Stone-Miller, Seeing with New Eyes: Highlights from the Michael C. Carlos Museum Collection of Art of the Ancient Americas, Atlanta: Emory University (2002), p. 144, nos. 315 and 316.

Published:  Ancient Forms for the Modern Eye, Colnaghi Gallery, New York,  April 17 - July 20, 2018. 

Medium:  Veined brownish-gray quartz with white crystalline inclusions

Dimensions:  Height: 2 inches (5 cm), Length: 2 3/4 inches  (7 cm)

Condition:  Two small chips to the top of the head that do not detract; otherwise intact and in excellent condition. The polish is well preserved, with only minor surface wear consistent with age and use.  Presented on a museum-quality custom mount.

Provenance:  Private East coast collection, acquired by the current collection in 1989, from Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, New York.

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