Featured Todays Find#1

I picked up this rather odd marble statue today. Its about 7 inches tall, appears to be marble. It was marked as an "Incense Burner". any clues on age, origin, or who the statue is of?

 

Mayan, Inca, statue? It's not my field but it looks well done.
https://www.tooveys.com/lots/503813...e-carved-green-hardstone-eagle-warrior-figure

 

Yeah, a pre-Colombian warrior. Aztec? Not necessarily old.

Debora

 

It is modern (not ancient) probably from Mexico (or perhaps Guatemala), in the style of a precolumbian Mayan figure.

 

Toltec, or Olmec? I like it!

 

Mayan inspired, as 2many said.
The figurine Debora posted is Toltec inspired. Olmec faces are often rounded and have thick lips.

 

The reclining figure is known as a "chacmool".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chacmool

 

It's meant for cone incense, and I agree it has no great age. If it's an old one, someone used the incense to cover the smell of a green smokeable substance. Or pretended to cover it, more like.

 

I think maybe an expert should have a look, there looks like a lot of polishing that went into that on a really hard stone, if it was common tourist wear I would expect google lens to find similar ones, it doesn't. Worth a little time on a investigation IMHO.

 

OK it does look like I was wrong about worth an investigation, just found a tourist piece almost exactly the same (but female) for $28, sorry

 

How about if I jump on this thread with a similar item....... once the juices are already flowing....???

OK...

well , let's see..

I've had it for 25 years..... sold as a SouthAmerican jade carving... mid century...

.

 

it's 428 grams,
approx 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches.
a blade won't scratch it.... at medium pressure..

 

Nice piece. Probably Guatemalan jade/jadeite. The style is Mayan, but not precolumbian.

"Guatemalan jade is a rare gem material that comes in many different colors. This jade was prevalent in ancient Mesoamerica, however, its sources were lost for five centuries. It was rediscovered less than 50 years ago. Tourists visiting Guatemala today can go to shops that sell jewelry and art made from Guatemalan jade."
https://www.rockngem.com/guatemalan-jade/

Gerard Helferich: Stone of Kings: In Search of the Lost Jade of the Maya. Lyons Press, 2011.

 

Ditto. Very nice, and a traditional Maya stone too.

 

It appears this is "King Pakal"

 

This is the original portrait sculpture of the Mayan ruler K'inich Jahahb' Pakal, found in the ruins of Palenque -

 

looks like my guy !

 

'King' Pakal is probably the most copied Maya figure. Usually very badly copied.