Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast of Mexico, Veracruz (Vera Cruz) culture, ca. 5th to 7th century CE. A fabulous example of a hand-carved stone hacha depicting an abstract anthropomorphic face, perhaps that of an elderly shaman. The three-dimensional countenance exhibits expertly sculpted details including recessed semicircular eyes beneath a low brow, drooping cheek bones, an aquiline nose with bulbous nostrils, puffy lips with circular corners, and a prominent chin fronted with the curve of a J-shaped nose ornament. The thick brows rise above the face and rest beneath a trapezoidal, axe-shaped headdress bearing a bowtie-shaped groove along the verso. Areas of the wheat-hued stone are accentuated with rubbed cinnabar in hues of maroon and crimson to create a captivating presentation. Size: 5.6" L x 1.375" W x 8.5" H (14.2 cm x 3.5 cm x 21.6 cm); 10.6" H (26.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Hachas were associated with the ritual Mesoamerican ballgame, though they were not actually part of the player's equipment. Instead, these were worn during ritualistic ceremonies related to the game. The name stems from the fact that they were believed to be axe-heads; hence the term hacha (Spanish for axe). Having studied ceramic figures and imagery on stone carvings, some scholars have proposed that hachas were meant to be attached to yugos (yokes). Others have suggested that some hachas likely served as ballcourt markers.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1979.206.371; The British Museum, museum number Am1849,0629.3; and The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number K6893

Another example hammered for EUR 39.900 ($46,950.29) at Sotheby's, Paris (sale PF1340, March 22, 2013, lot 30)

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Superior, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Chicago, Illinois, USA collection, before 1974

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#167846

Minor nicks and pitting across surfaces, with fading to some red cinnabar details, and light encrustations, otherwise intact and near-choice. Wonderful root marks and earthen deposits throughout, with great preservation to overall form, and nice remains of cinnabar within some details.