Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. Two beautiful stone spear points created from gorgeous specimens of mahogany obsidian (volcanic glass with iron inclusions). The blades are well-crafted, symmetrically knapped to points at both ends, most definitely two objects of prestige from a rare source of stone. Size of largest: 1.95" W x 11.9" H (5 cm x 30.2 cm); 12.45" H (31.6 cm) on included custom stand.
Obsidian - "iztli" to the indigenous - fascinated the ancient Mesoamericans; the Aztecs even had a god, Tezcatlipoca, who was the Lord of the Smoking Obsidian Mirror. The shockingly sharp edges and points of these pieces demonstrate its great allure. In a world without metal, this sharp quality was especially important for ceremonies of ritual bloodletting and human sacrifice. The difficult-to-obtain material came from volcanic sources in the Sierra Madre of Mexico and in Guatemala, traded hundreds of miles to meet the demand for sharp cutting tools and ritual objects, and then was struck using a deer antler or small hammer stone to form blades and other shapes. The Colima buried their dead in shaft tombs deep below their residences, alongside the remains of their ancestors. These tombs were richly furnished with ceramic figures, vessels, offerings, and precious stone items of jade and obsidian.
Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection
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#146376
Condition
The larger is repaired with a small loss from along the repair line. The other is missing a portion of one side to the tip. Light deposits on surface of both, especially on the larger.