HACHE ANTHROPOMORPHE EN PIERRECULTURE MAYACLASSIQUE RÉCENT, 550-950 AP. J.-C. |

Edward H. Merrin Gallery, New York
Collection Nell Singer, New York, acquis en 1971
Sotheby's, New York, 17 mai 2007, n° 230
Importante Collection privée française

Edward H. Merrin Gallery, New York, Works of Art from Pre-Columbian Mexico and Guatemala, automne 1971

Merrin (E. H.), Works of Art from Pre-Columbian Mexico and Guatemala, 1971, n. p., n° 11

the finely carved human head of slender section, with prominent youthful cheekbones, small upturned nose and open mouth, with distinctive striated coiffure, in speckled grey and brown basalt, pierced at the top. Very good condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture.
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Cette très belle hache céphalomorphe est certainement le portrait idéalisé d'un joueur, ni vainqueur ni vaincu. Les haches en pierre sont des trophées cérémoniels. Elles relèvent du culte de la panoplie du jeu de balle et agissent en tant que symboles de la « prérogative de participation » (Wilkerson in Evans, Ancient Mexican Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 2010, p. 239). La silhouette élancée de la coupe est typique du style maya des montagnes du sud ; les pommettes saillantes contrastent avec le rétrécissement des yeux et la coiffure simple est marquée par d'étroites lignes striées. Les haches nécessitaient un dispositif de fixation, permis ici par la perforation à l'arrière de la tête.

The fine stone head hachas can be considered the idealized portrait of a player, as neither victor or subjugated looser. Hachas are ceremonial stone trophies, part of the cult of the ballgame attire and symbols of the "prerogative of participation" (Wilkerson in Evans, Ancient Mexican Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 2010, p. 239). 


The slender section form is typical of the Southern Highlands Maya style, the high cheekbones contrast with the narrowed recessed eyes and the plain coiffure is marked by simple striated lines. Hachas required a form of attachment accomplished here by the perforation at the back of the head.