Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero, Mezcala culture (Balsas culture), ca. 700 to 200 BCE. A remarkable example of Mezcala jade axe god, presenting characteristic abstract, anthropomorphic features. The stylized figure stands with delineated, string-cut legs as he holds his wing-shaped arms at his sides. A rounded chest with angular shoulders and a broad neck support the oversized, bulbous head. The minimalist visage exhibits string-cut grooves denoting the slit-form eyes, crested nose, and petite, open mouth. A widow's peak at the top of the head grants the deity an owl-like appearance, while a deep-cut band separates the long torso from the short legs, perhaps intended as a yoke from the Mesoamerican ballgame or as clasped hands. The Mezcala specialized in abstracting human physiognomy using string-cut technology and saying so much through line and volume. One of the finer examples of Mezcala carving we have seen! Size: 1.9" W x 6.4" H (4.8 cm x 16.3 cm) Size: 1.9" W x 6.3" H (4.8 cm x 16 cm); 6.5" H (16.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-Peter Arnovick collection, San Francisco, CA acquired before 1980

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#118673

Some age wear to form, but features are clear. Otherwise, intact and excellent with smooth surfaces.