A Maya Jade Plaque...

Description

A Maya Jade Plaque
Yucatan, Mexico, c. 600 - 850 AD

A thick slab of mottled light to dark green jade, carved in detail on one side to represent (most likely) Chaac, the Maya god of fertile earth and blood sacrifice. It has the large circular eyes of the Chaacmool figures from the Yucatan area, a large open mouth showing teeth, large bead necklace, earspools, headdress, knotted belt with apron beneath, the hands are cupped over the chest. In excellent condition, remains of calcite in the grooves.

Provenance:
Private collection, Atlanta, GA
Enrique Vargas Alfaro, 1960s. Mr. Alfaro was the source of high quality Pre-Columbian art sold to prestigious collections such as Andre Emmerich, Morton D. May, Frederick and Jan Mayer, and William C. and Carol W. Thibadeau. Artworks listing him as provenance appear in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, The Denver Art Museum, and the William C. Carlos Museum.

Height: 4 inches

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