Lot 55

Taino Manatee Bone Cohoba Spoon with Zemi Handle

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 55
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3
Taino Manatee Bone Cohoba Spoon with Zemi Handle
Taino Manatee Bone Cohoba Spoon with Zemi Handle
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3

Taino Manatee Bone Cohoba Spoon with Zemi Handle

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT (In Progress)
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Pre-Columbian, Dominican Republic, Taino, ca. 1000–1500 CE. A slender ritual implement carved from dense manatee bone, its shallow oval bowl rising into a stylized zemi effigy whose hollow eyes, parted lips, and incised geometric bands transform a humble utensil into a conduit for the sacred. The cranial crest tapers to a beak-like point, while crisp linear ornament, chevrons, parallel grooves, and drilled perforations, animates the shaft with the controlled abstraction characteristic of Taino lapidary tradition. Implements of this form were central to the cohoba ceremony, a visionary rite in which caciques and behiques inhaled pulverized seeds of Anadenanthera peregrina to commune with the zemis, the ancestral and elemental spirits believed to govern fertility, weather, and war. The spoon likely served to portion the powdered hallucinogen onto a ceremonial platter or directly into nasal inhalers, the zemi face on its handle ensuring the spirit's participation in the rite. Manatee bone, prized for its density and ivory-like polish, was a favored medium for the Taino elite of Hispaniola, who reserved it for objects of devotional significance. Mounted on a custom display block. Size: 1" W x 7.2" H (2.5 cm W x 18.3 cm H); on included custom stand: 7.6" H (19.3 cm H).

Publication: Please note this item may fall under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and may not be eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: ex-private collection, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, USA, collected from 2010 to 2015

SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.

Item # 198643

  • Condition: Good. Professionally repaired from two pieces with chipping along visible break line. Some natural pitting and ossification to bone as shown, as well as weathering commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with good remaining detail.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000