It's definitely some type of tribal something...

OK, this is my first post but it's a mystery to my cousin & I. She picked this up at an auction in New Brunswick, Canada for next to nothing because no one else bid on it & she thought it was cool. It's definitely not from here but no amount of Google searching could find anything even remotely similar.

I have included pictures of the front, back (it has a cylinder shaped hole down the back) & bottom though we could not find any markings on it. The head he's holding in one hand plus the actual stones attached to it we thought added some coolness factor. Regardless of any value it's made for an interesting conversation piece.

It weighs 10 lbs so we didn't figure it was some random trinket brought back from a holiday but other than that we are stumped. Any information any of you far more knowledgeable people may have would be greatly appreciated!!

Have a fabulous day!

Jenny T

 

Looks Aztec.

 

Or Mayan....is the face a bit cat-like? I seem to see some ears above the head. Jaguar-god?
I'm not sure I see any great age or value, though, could just be a souvenir of a visit to Mexico, in spite of the size and weight.

 

Might try a google image search for "mayan jaguar god" or add the word sculpture to that search....I ran out of time, but here's one image I found....has some similarities.

 

I gave it a bit of study, and there seem to me to be Aztec and Mayan AND other later tribal influences... WHICH suggests to me that it's a 20-21st century artistic/decorative piece designed to look great (which it would!) in a Southwestern or Mexican or Central/South American atmosphere. What's it made of?? Maybe heavy resin? Plaster? Any chips or boo-boos that give you a clue??

 

mayan god of tourist art.

 

All hail!

 

There is a small chip on the bottom of the piece, right below the severed head he's holding. The colour suggests clay/terracotta, but seems a little too smoother so maybe resin. And the hole in the back suggests it was supposed to be used to hold something but not a vase/liquid.

 

Believe this is a Mexican Aztec tourist figure. Probably clay/terracotta that has been painted and clear-coated. The clear coating is not typical and may not be original to the figure.

Here is a similar figure for sale on ebay. Take the asking price with a huge grain of salt.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Clay-Statue...-Figurine-Figure-Pottery-Statue-/161871221363

Here is one with a different finish that actually sold......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Azt...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557