Bidspirit auction | Taino Bird Man Effigy Celt,

Taino Bird Man Effigy Celt, 900-1500 BCE - Caribbean Islands, Hispaniola, Taino 'Bird Man' anthropomorphic form celt 900 - 1500 BCE, Carved from a yellowed patina limestone in the form of a bird man with engraved arms brought in to represent wings. Long pointed beak with traditional engraved linear details. The skull in a flat bird form with big recessed eyes representing a hollowed skull like image. The Bird Man, or ”Zemi”, was a significant spiritual figure in Taino culture. Zemis were sacred objects or spirits, often represented in the form of carved wooden or stone figures. The Bird Man was one of the many forms that zemis could take. The bird was representative of the spiritual realm and was often associated with the sun, sky and the afterlife. Size 5 1/2” H, 2 3/4 W Private East Coast Collection