Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Aztec, ca. 1325 to 1475 CE. An incredible stone carving of a serpent with the coils interlacing, forming a large and solid ball, the head and forked tongue resting atop the body. To the side of the head is a rattle, and the slightly parted mouth bears enormous fangs. The South American rattlesnake was associated with the deity Quetzalcoatl, the mythical feathered serpent. The body itself is smoothly carved, a twisting and mesmerizing knot. Snakes provide a fascinating element of Pre-Columbian iconography, as important symbols of power, rebirth, transition, and renewal. Since snakes shed their skin annually, thus rejuvenating themselves, the ancients of Mexico viewed them as providing hope for the possibility of change in the face of adversity. Size: 12" L x 9" W x 12" H (30.5 cm x 22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Quetzalcoatl translates to "Feathered Serpent" in the Nahuatl language - the Pre-Columbian deity revered as lord of wind and sky, and the word quetzal is used today as the name of several species of trogon birds. The earliest representations of Quetzalcoatl adorn the Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Teotihuacan, Mexico (ca. 3rd century CE) where numerous stone heads of the divine plumed snake embellish the steps of this Pre-Classic pyramid. The pioneering artist/anthropologist Miguel Covarrubias whose writings and illustrations on indigenous cultures of the ancient Americas continue to contribute to scholarly studies today stated, "Quetzalcoatl stood for all that was good in this world: peace, art, wisdom, and prosperity. Disguised as an ant, he discovered maize, the staple food of the Indians, hidden under the mountain of Substance, Tonacatepetl; he also invented the arts, the sciences, and the calendar. In fact, everything connected with wisdom and culture was attributed to Quetzalcoatl." (Miguel Covarrubias, Mexico South: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946), 130)

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#173322

Stable fissures as shown on head and body. Weathering and abrasions commensurate with age and exposure to elements. Details are still sharp and clear.