A Maya Greenstone Hacha Gulf Coast, Mexico, c. 600-800 AD Carved from mottled and veined green hardstone, ...

Description

A Maya Greenstone Hacha
Gulf Coast, Mexico, c. 600–800 AD

Carved from mottled and veined green hardstone, this extraordinary hacha takes the form of a highly stylized supernatural head in profile. The wide open mouth is sharply cut, exposing four flat front teeth flanked by short fangs, while the projecting upper snout and deeply grooved cheek give the face a jaguar-like ferocity. The large oval eye is deeply recessed and left rough to receive inlay, in contrast to the smooth polish of the surrounding stone. A thick curving brow springs from the bridge of the nose and resolves into a bold spiral at the temple, while two smaller S-shaped elements animate the forehead and rear of the head. Lightly incised curls and curving lines further enliven the surface. The profile may also evoke underworld imagery, with the open mouth, prominent teeth, and hybridized features suggesting associations with bat or canine powers long linked in Mesoamerica to death, sacrifice, and passage between worlds. A remarkable hacha, notable for its expressive power and its possible evocation of underworld forces. In very good condition; gouge at the apex of the head on one side.

Provenance:
The Vilcek Foundation

Height: 10 ¾ inches

Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000.

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