Pre-Columbian, Valley of Mexico, Aztec culture, ca. 15th to 16th century CE. An exemplary carved-stone fragment from an Aztec ballgame palma displaying two skillfully sculpted scenes, a convex frontal face, and a flat verso. The convex face depicts the head and torso of a figure surrounded by a swirling, maze-like background. Alternatively, the verso is carved with the shoulders, torso, and legs of a priest dressed in a loin cloth and holding a flint knife used to cut out the hearts of human sacrifices, a reference to the fate of the losing team at the ballgame. Named for their palm-frond-like shape, stone palmas were ceremonially made sculptural versions of the lightweight protective gear worn by players during the ballgame. Size: 5.5" W x 5.5" H (14 cm x 14 cm); 10.5" H (26.7 cm) on included custom stand.

According to Patricia Joan Sarro of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Palmas, named for their palm frond shape, were one element of the elaborate regalia worn by Mesoamerican ballplayers. Resting atop the yoke worn around the player’s hips, they extended up the middle of the ballplayer's chest to protect major organs from the impact of the hard rubber ball used in the game."

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private T. Misenhimer collection, Beverly Hills, California, USA, collected from 1970 to 2008

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#161447

Collection label on base. Fragment of a larger piece. Expected surface wear as shown with light softening of detail commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with lovely earthen deposits throughout.