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Bring a piece of rich Caribbean history into your home with this stunning, vintage hand-carved Taíno Zemí (Cemí) Cohoba ritual figurine. This piece beautifully replicates the sacred artifact stands used by the indigenous pre-Columbian Taíno peoples during spiritual ceremonies across the Greater Antilles. Masterfully crafted by a skilled artisan in the Dominican Republic during the mid-to-late 20th Century (circa 1950s–1980s), it was originally created as a high-quality cultural keepsake for early travelers. This unique tribal folk-art sculpture is meticulously shaped from Guayacán (Lignum Vitae), a legendary tropical \"ironwood\" renowned for its remarkable density and hardness. The striking side and back profiles reveal a breathtaking natural grain pattern, seamlessly contrasting rich, golden-honey sapwood with a deep, dark chocolate-to-black heartwood spine. True to the heavy property of authentic ironwood, this compact 9-inch statue weighs an impressive 11.1 ounces.
The craftsmanship honors ancient iconography with a flat-topped crown—traditionally designed in antiquity to hold hallucinogenic cohoba snuff powder inhaled by tribal shamans during rituals. Deeply incised lines emphasize geometric rib-cage features representing spiritual fasting, while the classic wide, circular concentric eyes mimic a meditative state.
Condition: Excellent vintage condition with gorgeous natural wood variegation and smooth aging. No cracks, chips, or repairs.Dimensions: Approximately 9\" Tall x 2.5\" Wide x 1.25\" Deep.Weight: 11.1 oz.Material: Exotic Solid Guayacán Hardwood (Lignum Vitae).Era/Origin: Mid-to-Late 20th Century, hand-carved by indigenous-heritage artisans in the Dominican Republic.
This rare, dense carving makes a remarkable conversation piece for collectors of ethnographic artifacts, global folk art, or unique tropical home decor.
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