Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast of Mexico, Veracruz culture, ca. 500 to 700 CE. A volcanic palma stone, carved by hand, in the form of a bird- perhaps an eagle or a wild turkey, standing in profile with the neck arched and beak resting on the puffed-up chest. This palma is carved in low relief on both sides of the flattened panel suggesting it was meant to be viewed from all sides, and a thick support projects from the verso. The shape fanning gives this form its name – a palma from the frond shape of palm trees. The athletes from Mesoamerica played a ballgame while wearing a hip yoke with a palma shaped fan made of leather, wood, or rubber to protect their chests from the impact of the hard rubber balls. The hefty carved stone statues had a similar shape as the chest padding and were perhaps court markers to determine borders or to keep score during the game. Size: 6.75″ L x 6″ W x 18.5″ H (17.1 cm x 15.2 cm x 47 cm)
Condition: Some chips and abrasions to high pointed areas and surfaces, but otherwise intact and excellent. Choice!
Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010; ex-Gertrude & Leo Stein collection, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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