Petrified smoker from Costa Rica

June 2011

Magical is the depiction of early smokers from the time when pictures were not yet to be expected. This statuette of volcano stone from the Linea Vieja culture in Costa Rica, made between 900 and 1100, is one of that category. The figure is a medicine man or sukia who smokes from a tubular pipe as a primitive cigar. This is a representation of the Indian praxis to create a intoxication and to get a pleasant anesthetic with smoke. In addition, one can defuse evil spirits with tobacco smoke. The statue measures more than eleven centimeters and is compact in design. You can clearly see how the sculptor freed the seated person from the stone. There is therefore no question of a true three-dimensional representation. A good sculpture, when turned around, is equally attractive on all sides. In this case you can clearly see two very striking sides, whereas the frontal and rear zones are less appealing.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 20.501

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