An Exceptional Jade Mace Head...

Description

An Exceptional Jade Mace Head
Costa Rica, c. 100 - 700 AD

Carved from mottled blue-green jade with a high polish, depicts a bat-like creature with raised wings, the head finely string-sawed and grooved to depict a snub-nose creature with open mouth showing fangs, large circular eyes, and dog-like ears. The wings with two angular parallel lines. Large central hole with raised break line. In excellent condition, trace soil remains in grooves and in mouth.

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.

Length: 4 ¼ inches

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