Pre-Columbian, Veracruz, ca. 550 to 800 CE. An expertly carved and well-preserved hacha, hewn from a large piece of volcanic rock to serve as one of the ritual items associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame. Hachas sometimes represented human heads, like this one depicting a sacrificial victim related to the ballgame wearing ornate head gear, 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 closed eyes, a broad browline leading to a naturalistic nose adorned by an enormous nose ring that falls over his open mouth - topped by an intricately delineated helmet with multiple sections with large ear flaps - and still adorned by generous traces of red and black pigments. Size: 9" H (22.9 cm); 10.875" H (27.6 cm) on included custom stand.
Hachas were associated with the ritual Mesoamerican ball game, though they were not actually part of the player's equipment. Instead these were worn during ritualistic ceremonies related to the game. The name stems from the fact that they were believed to be axe-heads; hence the term hacha (Spanish for axe). Based on ceramic figures and imagery on stone carvings, some authors have proposed that hachas were meant to be attached to yugos (yokes). Others suggest that some of the hachas could have served as ball court markers.
Provenance: private Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, USA collection; ex-private West Coast, USA collection
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#144548
Condition
Normal surface wear with scratches and abrasions as shown. Smaller perforations to the stone are inherent to it. Liberal traces of red and black pigments over the surface. Scattered mineral deposits.