Lot 122A
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz, ca. 100 BCE to 800 CE. This is a fine stone palma, made of volcanic grey stone, and carved in the form of a crouching skeleton, with a particularly clear skull. The palma was made to sit upon the yoke, part of the stone gear for the ballgame. Although the ballgame was played across Mesoamerica, palmas are particular to Veracruz, at least as far as current excavations show. With its gaping eyes and grinning face, this macabre skeleton calls to mind the medieval European concept of the Danse Macabre and memento mori, the insertion of skeletons and skulls into everyday artwork to remind the viewer of their impending mortality. With many skulls and skeletons gracing the accoutrement of the ballgame, we can guess that their iconography was motivated by a similar sentiment. Size: 7" W x 4.2" H (17.8 cm x 10.7 cm)
Provenance: Ex- Peter Arnovick collection, San Francisco, CA
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#116961
- Condition: Age wear, but shape of design is very clear.
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