Palma Item Number: 59.237.7 from the Brooklyn Museum
Description
Palm-shaped stone sculpture decorated with carved scroll designs and representing a decorative element that was worn on the front of ball game belts. Condition: good.
Credit Line
By exchange
Label
Like hachas, palmas (literally, “palm branches”) were worn as appendages on the front of ballgame belts. The sinuously carved scroll designs on this example may signify blood, and therefore sacrifice.
Al igual que las hachas, las palmas (por su semejanza a hojas de palma) se usaban como apéndices al frente de los cinturones del juego de pelota. Los diseños de volutas grabados en este ejemplo pueden significar sangre, y por lo tanto sacrificio.
Item History
- Made between 700 and 900
What
- Name
- Palma
- Identification Number
- 59.237.7
- Type of Item
- “Palma” ?
- Material
- basalt stone
- Overall
- length 30.0 in, width 9.5 in, height 6.25 in
Who
- Culture
- Totonac
Where
- Holding Institution
- Brooklyn Museum
When
- Creation Date
- between 700 and 900
Other
- Location
- Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor
- Classification
- Sculpture