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25
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- Hacha with crocodile totem. Carved and semi-polished volca…
See original version (French)
25
-
- Hacha with crocodile totem. Carved and semi-polished volca…
See original version (French)
Estimate €3,500 - €4,500
Voluntary lot
Description
- Hacha with crocodile totem.
Carved and semi-polished volcanic stone, mark of use and time.
Veracruz, Mexico, 600 - 900 AD
27 x 18.5 x 13 cm
Provenance: Origine Auction, Bagnolet, 26 September 2015, lot 116
In the Veracruz region, hachas are closely associated with the game of pelota, a major ritual practice in the Mesoamerican world. Their exact function is still debated: some may have been worn as ornaments or used in ceremonial contexts, while others were left as offerings. The presence of a human face with an open mouth, associated with a stylised crocodile, refers to the notion of a companion or protective animal, expressing the player's strength and endurance. The crocodile, linked to aquatic environments and primordial forces, embodies a particularly powerful telluric force. The tension of the shapes and the stylisation of the motif are evidence of a symbolic concept in which the game goes beyond mere competition to form part of a complex ritual system.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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