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Taino stone axes served as both tools and
weapons, but richly carved examples such as this
one were designed for ceremonial purposes.
Fashioned from a dark, flecked green stone, the
surface has been highly polished to create a
wonderfully smooth finish. The identity of the
head is ambiguous, but it may well represent a
bird, possibly a parrot. The deeply carved
circular eyes and the beak-like nose recall Costa
Rican avian sculptures. Two panels of lightly
incised geometric designs adorn the sides of the
axe blade. The combination of avian and
anthropomorphic features in a single image was
common in Taino art and relates to their
mythological traditions. Birds were highly
esteemed for both religious and economic
reasons. The Taino cosmos was divided into
three sections: subterranean waters, land and
sky. Animals that were able to move through two
or more of these spheres were highly esteemed
and credited with magical powers. Coloured
feathers were also used for ceremonial dress and
widely traded.
The Spanish chroniclers who arrived in the
Caribbean in the late fifteenth century recorded
over forty Taino names for birds. Exotic parrots
were also among the first items sent as tribute to
King Ferdinand of Spain. A sculpture of this
quality and complexity would undoubtedly have
belonged to one of the Taino chieftains
(caciques), who commissioned elaborate stone
sculptures to bolster their religious and political
authority. It would have been attached to a
wooden shaft which has since perished. This is
an incredibly rare item, which continues to
impress us with its bold, abstract design. (AM)
- (BF.038)
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