Hacha · Mexico, Maya · ID: 3038607
not available anymore
Provenance
American Private Collection, New YorkSize
H: 17,5 cm
H: 6.9 inch
Description
heavy brown stone, black pigment remains, sculpted on both sides, presumably depicting the head of a jaguar, custom mount;
such axe-shaped sculptures, called “hacha” (“axe”), are attributed to the complex of the ritual ballgame. Various interpretations of the stone objects exist. So they could have been the prototype of the wooden or leather-made “hachas” which were used to protect the player during the game or they were just worn in the belt on important ceremonies. Possibly they were used as decorative architectural elements and were inserted in the walls of ballgame playing fields.
Comparing literature
Clados, Christiane, Das göttliche Herz der Dinge, Köln 2012, p. 64