Ceremonial Maya Stone Metate, North Coastal Honduras

André Emmerich, New York (inv. no. M256)

European Private Collection, acquired from the above on March 24, 1973

Thence by descent

Such Maya metate are rare and divergent from the Central American examples which have survived in abundance. Honduran metates are characterized by the up-curving platforms, shorter legs, and dramatic deeply carved ferocious heads as a counterbalance to the weighty volcanic stone.

Here, the mythical creature’s fangs are bared and a long tongue curls upward; together with a large mano.

For similar metates, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Acc. No. 1979.206.887; Elisabeth Kennedy Easby, Ancient Art of Latin America from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, A Special Exhibition, Brooklyn Museum, November, 1966, no. 485.