Large Andesite Stone Figure of a Guard Deity “Doble Yo” from San Agustin

Culture: San Agustin Culture/Colombia

Period: 7th century B.C. to 4th century A.D.

Material: Andesite

Dimensions: 51.7 cm high

Price: 18 000 Euro

Ref: 11063

Provenance: Austrian private collection Prof. Josef Mairitsch (1938-1994) with the inventory number M 7. Acquired between 1960 and the early 1980s. Thence in the family estate. With copies of the collection note and inventory list.

Condition: Unrestored. Traces of weathering on the entire surface. But overall an impressive and important stele of the San Agustin culture.

Description: Large, semi-circular andesite figure from San Agustin depicting an anthropomorphic figure with a so-called “Doble Yo”, the double Me, cuffing protectively over the figure, who carries him. The lower figure stands with legs apart, the feet turned inwards. The hands are placed in front of the chest. The head is rounded with a broad nose, slit-shaped mouth and large circular eyes. Above the flat headdress the protective Super Ego leans over, wearing a mask of a feline predator with open mouth and long fangs. It also holds the arms in front of the chest and stares with eyes framed by thick lids. The Super Ego has a cape at the back with several furs on top of each other. On the sides the legs and tails of the animals hang down. On the back a serpent runs downwards – decorated with circles and arrows – and ends in a human head. See for the statue the one from the Cacique tomb, which dates to the 7th century B.C. and is located on hill number 1 of “El Alto de Las Piedras” in San José de Isnos. See: L. Duque Gomez (text), Francisco Hidalgo (pictures) “San Agustin”, Paris 1982, no. 140-142. It is therefore quite possible that the present statue can be dated to a similarly early date. On a modern metal base.