Lot 72

Taino Black Serpentine Stone Carving of Zemi Figure

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Lot 72
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Taino Black Serpentine Stone Carving of Zemi Figure
Taino Black Serpentine Stone Carving of Zemi Figure
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Taino Black Serpentine Stone Carving of Zemi Figure

Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500
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, Caribbean, perhaps Dominican Republic, Taino (Arawak) peoples, ca. 1000 to 1500 CE. A black serpentine stone carving depicting a reclining anthropomorphic figure, likely a zemi or ancestral spirit. The dense, dark stone is sculpted in high relief with incised details and smoothed contours. Taino art centers on the worship of zemis - deities, ancestors, or earth spirits believed to house powerful supernatural forces. Each zemi possessed an individual name, personality, and sphere of influence, and was traditionally honored with offerings of food or valuable gifts. The roughly triangular profile of this carving may reference the Taino cosmological triad, Yocahu Bagua Maorocoti ("the Creator, Yaya"), symbolizing the sacred mountain of the sky world, Coabey (the underworld), and Goiz (the land of the living). Size: 7.5" L x 3" W x 4.5" H (19 cm x 7.6 cm x 11.4 cm)

Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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Item # 145810

  • Condition: Fair. Expected surface wear and weathering consistent with age and exposure to elements, with abrasions and pitting to the high pointed areas of the figure .The stone remains stable and intact, with crisp carving lines and well-preserved facial and anatomical features. Overall, the object is in very good condition.

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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