Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, Guanacaste/Nicoya region, ca. 1st to 5th century CE. An interesting mace head of a hefty and potentially deadly form, hand-carved from mottled beige-hued stone with tan, citrine, and faded brick-red inclusions. The sturdy weapon features a central hafting shaft of a wide form as well as a conical butt spike opposite a stylized avian head. The head features a large pair of annular eyes, a nubbin wattle and snood, and an aquiline beak with a curved tip, all in front of a pair of vertical rectangular wings that flank the hafting shaft. Smooth surface textures indicate the advanced age of this stone armament. Size: 6.25" L x 2.25" W x 2.75" H (15.9 cm x 5.7 cm x 7 cm)
Provenance: ex-Leonard Auction, Chicago, Illinois, USA; ex-private Chicago, Illinois, USA collection
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#167526
Condition
Nicks and pitting commensurate with age, with minor softening to some avian details and incised decorations, and light pitting in scattered areas, otherwise intact and very good. Nice surface smoothness in several areas, and great preservation to avian head.