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LOT 2412
Mesoamerican Costa Rican Jadeite Ceremonial Jaguar Mace Head
100-500 A.D.
4 3/8 in. (209 grams total, 11 cm including stand).
Dual profile animal-head mace head with drilled eye and teeth exposed; hole close the edge for suspension; mounted on a custom-made stand.
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1990s.
Private collection, England.
See Deletaille, E., Tresros Du Nouveau Monde, Musees Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, 1992, p.258, for a variety of ceremonial mace heads from Guanacaste – Nicoya region.
FootnotesThese mace heads were sculpted with great care and likely produced for high ranking members of society. Often zoomorphic in form, this example is particularly notable for its dual aspect with a monkey face on one side contrasted with a more human skull appearance on the other. A fine and interesting example with great expression and design.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 2412
Mesoamerican Costa Rican Jadeite Ceremonial Jaguar Mace Head
Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
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Pre-Columbian Stone Taino Transforming Zemi Figure
Circa 1500 A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £910
Large carved hardstone model of a crouching figure with elbows resting on the knees and hands supporting the chin; the head modelled as a skull with exposed teeth, drilled eye-sockets and triangular nasal cavity; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 6 kg total, 34.3 cm high including stand
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
The population of the Taino people of the Dominican Republic and surrounding Caribbean islands may have been as high as 2 million by the 15th century. The Zemi, a spiritual figure forms a major part of their existing legacy and examples exist in many sizes including depictions in wood and stone. -
Pre-Columbian Moche Anthropomorphic Vessel
Circa 5th-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Hollow-formed bulbous vessel with burnished finish, seated or crouching male figure with bent legs and arms across his waist, straps to the chin securing a flat-topped cap with rectangular flap to the rear decorated with a ropework saltire; the face with aquiline nose, lentoid eyes and small curved mouth; between the hands, a small bird with discoid eye and wings partly extended; funicular spout to the top; marked 'OTX' to the underside. 550 grams, 20.2 cm high
From the collection of a Norfolk, UK, gentleman, 1990s.
Examples of birds are relatively common across the spectrum of Moche pottery as are other animals depicting battle or hunting scenes. -
Large Pre-Columbian Chancay Water Container with Monkey Handle
9th-14th century A.D.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £200
Drum-shaped in plan with bulb to the mouth; strap handle with sitting monkey to the outer edge; second similar handle to the other side; each flat face with painted check pattern and central cross with meander ornament; mounted on a custom-made wooden stand. 4.5 kg total, 40 cm including stand
Acquired in the 1970s. Ex Nicolas Cuppy, UK. Acquired in the 1980s. Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman.
