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THBMaya Stone Hacha - Warrior with Avian Headdress
Lot 77c
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$4,000 - $6,000
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Nov 8, 2018
Set Reminder
2018-11-08 10:00:00
2018-11-08 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic From Around The World
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-from-around-the-world-3598
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (427)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Classic Maya, ca. 300 to 900 CE. An expertly carved and well-preserved hacha, hewn from a large piece of grey basalt to serve as one of the ritual items associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame. Hachas sometimes represented heads, like this one of a warrior wearing a magnificent parrot headdress, the overall form flattened to resemble a symbolic axe - hence the name "hacha," meaning "axe" in Spanish. Here, the visage is depicted in profile (on both sides) with a sharp browline, eyes suggested below, a naturalistic nose, and full lips - topped by a neat coiffure that falls just past his large ear flaps or ornaments AND a magnificent avian helmet or headdress with large recessed eyes that likely once held shell or stone inlays, incised crown feathers, and a large hooked beak. The parrot headdress references the Mayan sky world. Birds were revered as sky animals associated with the celestial realm - the sun, the moon, and Venus - where they acted as sacred messengers between humankind and its deities. Size: 9" W x 10.75" H (22.9 cm x 27.3 cm); 12.125" H (30.8 cm) on included custom stand.
The Mesoamerican ballgame was a ritual event, not just for entertainment (although it would have been that too!), and as a result had elaborate attire and accessories. Stone hachas were not actually used to play the game, but instead were probably worn or carried, hafted onto wooden poles like standards, in ritual processions where the elite sponsors of the game displayed them to demonstrate their wealth.
The parrot headdress worn by this warrior is especially significant. Parrots were highly revered by the ancients of the Americas for their brilliant plumage as well as their ability to fly well above the tree line. To the ancients, these birds' ability to talk in combination with their inhabitance of the sky world suggested that they served as ideal intermediaries between humankind and the deities – or even as incarnations of sky deities.
Provenance: ex-private T.S. collection, San Diego County, California, USA, acquired between 25 and 40 years ago
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#140603Lower section of beak reattached. Normal surface wear with scratches and abrasions as shown. Scattered mineral deposits.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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