"Hacha" en forme de tête humaine, environ 600 - 900 apr. J.-C. · Mexique, Côte du Golfe, Veracruz · ID: 3052504
Sotheby’s, New York, USA, 17 May 1994, lot 424
Description
heavy stone, base
Sculptures like this one from the Classic period of Veracruz are stone replicas of gear worn by players of the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame. “Hachas” (spanish for axe) and “palmas” were worn at the sides of or atop the “jugos”. “Jugos” were protective aprons made of leather and wood, worn around the hips to shield the players from the hard rubber balls.
It is unlikely that stone versions of this equipment were actually worn during gameplay. They may have been used only during the rituals surrounding the game—or not worn at all, but rather awarded as trophies meant for display. The head may represent the severed head of a deceased person. Multiple sources indicate that decapitation was closely linked to the Mesoamerican ballgame complex.
Remarques
This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).