Carved stone statue found in Sopris, CO in 1964

[BROBS]

Any ideas what this could be? I found it exactly as is in the back of an antique shop near Denver a few years ago. I’ve searched and searched and asked and asked.. and no one can tell me what this is. Is it an Hohokam effigy? Mesoamerican idol? Ancestral Pueblan carving? Fake? I don’t know! The carved areas to me definitely show the proper weathering and age. The note seems legit… my grandmother would write little notes just like this about items she thought important. So after she passed we would know the history of the items and which items were important. Any ideas welcomed. Thanks for your help.

 

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[BROBS]

Any ideas what this could be? I found it exactly as is in the back of an antique shop near Denver a few years ago. I’ve searched and searched and asked and asked.. and no one can tell me what this is. Is it an Hohokam effigy? Mesoamerican idol? Ancestral Pueblan carving? Fake? I don’t know! The carved areas to me definitely show the proper weathering and age. The note seems legit… my grandmother would write little notes just like this about items she thought important. So after she passed we would know the history of the items and which items were important. Any ideas welcomed. Thanks for your help. View attachment 2119144View attachment 2119145View attachment 2119146View attachment 2119147View attachment 2119148

And obviously the base of driftwood/desert wood has been glued on. The figure probably will not stand up on its own.

 

[Red-Coat]

Welcome to Tnet.

Nice. It looks to me to be distinctly Mesoamerican and from the late Pre-Columbian period. Compare to this one, said to be from Costa Rica:

"Ancient Pre Columbian Costa Rican Stone Figure c.1000-1400 AD. Size 6 3/4 inches high. A Costa Rican seated male figure carved from volcanic basalt stone. Condition: old chips and wear, otherwise in good condition. Ex Klein James Seattle Estate, Ex Prominent NYC Gallery."
[From ‘liveauctioneers.com’]

Sold for $150. Buyer's Premium 22%

Costa Rican art from this period had evolved independently, but sometimes exhibits stylistic traits derived from earlier Olmec and Mayan pieces.

 

[BROBS]

Welcome to Tnet.

Nice. It looks to me to be distinctly Mesoamerican and from the late Pre-Columbian period. Compare to this one, said to be from Costa Rica:

View attachment 2119197

"Ancient Pre Columbian Costa Rican Stone Figure c.1000-1400 AD. Size 6 3/4 inches high. A Costa Rican seated male figure carved from volcanic basalt stone. Condition: old chips and wear, otherwise in good condition. Ex Klein James Seattle Estate, Ex Prominent NYC Gallery."
[From ‘liveauctioneers.com’]

Sold for $150. Buyer's Premium 22%

Costa Rican art from this period had evolved independently, but sometimes exhibits stylistic traits derived from earlier Olmec and Mayan pieces.

Now if this is true the question is how did it get dug up in Southern Colorado!?

 

[Red-Coat]

Now if this is true the question is how did it get dug up in Southern Colorado!?

Who knows... but, personally, I treat old 'family folklore' labels stuck on antiquities with a high degree of scepticism.

 

[BROBS]

Who knows... but, personally, I treat old 'family folklore' labels stuck on antiquities with a high degree of scepticism.

True. However I’m not even sure I’d identify what you posted as Pre-Columbian Costa Rican in origin, either. Similar, yes. But many ancient peoples’ carving styles were.

 

[BROBS]

Who knows... but, personally, I treat old 'family folklore' labels stuck on antiquities with a high degree of scepticism.

And that’s also true that maybe the note meant “found” as in purchased at a garage sale or the like. In which case it certainly could be what you have posted.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thread moved to General forum, item found years ago, not qualified for "Today's Finds" forum.

 

[RGINN]

That's pretty cool. It looks pretty authentic mesoamerican, and I feel pretty confident in sayin it has no relation to the cultures present in SECO in probably the last 10,000 years. Hope you can do some research on it, nail down how or where it was actually found. Hey, maybe you found a clue to Montezuma's treasure?

 

[tamrock]

Now if this is true the question is how did it get dug up in Southern Colorado!?

Really

 

[BROBS]

Really

?

 

[tamrock]

?

Meaning I wonder in the same as you. How did that end up in the ground in southern Colorado.

 

[BROBS]

Meaning I wonder in the same as you. How did that end up in the ground in southern Colorado.

I got ya. Maybe it wasn’t dug up and just found at a yard sale or garage sale etc?

 

[Tnmountains]

Welcome to Tnet.

Nice. It looks to me to be distinctly Mesoamerican and from the late Pre-Columbian period. Compare to this one, said to be from Costa Rica:

View attachment 2119197

"Ancient Pre Columbian Costa Rican Stone Figure c.1000-1400 AD. Size 6 3/4 inches high. A Costa Rican seated male figure carved from volcanic basalt stone. Condition: old chips and wear, otherwise in good condition. Ex Klein James Seattle Estate, Ex Prominent NYC Gallery."
[From ‘liveauctioneers.com’]

Sold for $150. Buyer's Premium 22%

Costa Rican art from this period had evolved independently, but sometimes exhibits stylistic traits derived from earlier Olmec and Mayan pieces.

I think he has nailed the culture. Lots of items were dug and brought back to the states in the 60"s as the laws were much lax then. Sorry your thread got off track.
You might also post it in the Native American artifact section as their are many experts there as well. I think they will confirm Red-coats assessment.
Welcome to T-Net !