Description:

Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Guanacaste Nicoya Region, ca. 1 to 500 CE. An absolutely adorable disc-shaped mace head, with an abstract avian head - probably meant to evoke a hummingbird - protruding from one side. It is hand-carved from a pale grey and yellow smooth stone with dark brown banded inclusions. The bird's head is broad, with shallow indentations for eyes and a small beak. Behind the neck area is a drilled, smoothed, round opening. The face is a true delight! Size: 2.9" W x 1.6" H (7.4 cm x 4.1 cm)

Based on many pottery figures from throughout the pre-Columbian world, figural maces were often symbolic objects, carried by rulers and gods as visible signs of their power. The level of craftsmanship on this beautiful piece indicates that it was worth the time put in to create it, and that a highly skilled artisan - possibly someone who specialized in making such objects - created it for someone of wealth and importance.

Provenance: ex-private Sneed collection, Palm Beach, Florida, USA

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#146659

  • Condition: Light surface wear commensurate with age, including some scratching and a few deposits; overall in good condition with nicely preserved form and details.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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