Usually found in funerary contexts, large jaguar effigy vessels with bold red and black designs on a light background were apparently highly desirable goods in ancient Costa Rica. Perhaps it was believed that objects depicting fierce predators such as the jaguar transferred their strength to the deceased. The selective placement of jaguar markings and imagery on this example suggests that the vessel represents a person and his jaguar alter ego. During trances Costa Rican shamans are believed to symbolically transform themselves into jaguars in order to move between natural and supernatural realms.

Usualmente encontradas en contextos funerarios, las grandes vasijas efigie con llamativos diseños en rojo y negro sobre un fondo blanco eran aparentemente muy cotizadas en la antigua Costa Rica. Quizás se creía que objetos que representaban fieros depredadores como el jaguar podían transferir su fortaleza al difunto. La posición selectiva de las marcas e imagen del jaguar en este ejemplo sugieren que la vasija representa a una persona y su alter ego jaguar. Durante los trances, se cree que los chamanes de Costa Rica se transforman simbólicamente en jaguares para moverse entre los mundos natural y sobrenatural.

Size: undetermined or adult; probable wearer: undetermined or male. Plain weave consisting of a vertical camelid fiber warp and camelid fiber weft. Camelid fiber embroidery and fringe. Iconography: warriors holding staffs and knives (Ann Rowe). Two textile fragments decorated with human figures or warriors with arms raised holding a staff in one hand and a triangular-shaped tumi knife in the other. The figures are wearing what looks like a feather headdress with two streamers on one side, face paint, a tabbed, short tunic, and diaper-like pants.

Alfred W. Jenkins Fund

The whalebone object is a flat sword-shaped club. On top of handle is a carved thunderbird with two pierced holes. Due to an old break, the thunderbird's beak is missing. As found on many clubs, an incised, upside-down head is at the bottom. Each side of the club has a row of small round holes linked to each other by a simple vertical incised pattern. The front has five round holes; the back has three. The object has a rich patina indicating use and age. Regarding object above, see Steve Brown, "The Spirit Within," containing story told on the west coast of Vancouver Island by whaling nobility representatives (Nitin or Dit-i-Daht).

Charles Stewart Smith Memorial Fund

High hide boots with beaded trim in chevron pattern rows along calf and around vamp.

By exchange

Anonymous gift in memory of Dr. Harlow Brooks

Anonymous gift in memory of Dr. Harlow Brooks

Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead