CEREMONIAL AXE in green stone named Manaya, - Lot 189

CEREMONIAL AXE in green stone named Manaya, This object is a symbolic representation of the traditional axe, used in daily life for cutting cassava and other agricultural work. The handle was made of wood, and the upper part held the petaloid stone axe, held in place by ties. Here, the transcription of this common object in stone makes it a badge of power, and doubles as a symbolic and religious function. A small figure sits on the top of the handle, resting his feet on the outside of the axe. This iconography can be compared with the anthropomorphic axe preserved at the Museo de l'Homme in Santo Domingo. The small figure could be an ancestor who has come to establish the power of the current ruler. By making this offering to the gods, the cacique wins the good graces of the ancestors and gods to ensure the longevity and prosperity of his village. Dominican Republic 800 - 1500 AD Taïno culture Height: 26.5 cm Width: 15 cm Thickness: 3 cm Provenance: Private collection since 1950-1960, France. Bibliography for a similar object: Taino, Pre-Columbian Art and Culture from the Caribbean, Exhibition September 25, 1997 - March 29, 1998, El Museo del Barrio, New York, The Monacelli Press, p. 52-53, no. 38.