Palm-shaped Sculpture CULTURE: Veracruz, Mexico PERIOD: 550 – 950 AD MATERIAL: Grey stone. SIZE: Height 23 cm. PROVENANCE: Spanish private collection, formed in the 1970s. With Spanish Export License. CONDITION: In good condition, although the upper part of the palm is missing. PUBLICATION: "Ceràmiques dels Déus" Fundació Caixa Girona. DESCRIPTION: The palms are thick and thin objects of large dimensions, with a triangular section at the base but long, flattened and rounded at the top. Some of these, instead of representing vegetable palms, symbolize the palms of aquatic birds, although less evident in the archaeological record. Provided with a dent in the base, they are decorated with different bas-relief motifs such as characters, sacrificed prisoners, birds with open wings, etc. These objects, coming from the north of Veracruz, are related to figurative axes and yokes, all represented in stone, copying models in leather and metal that the ball players carried. Their findings are not produced in tombs, but as deposits buried in the playing fields. Notes: - The piece includes authenticity certificate. - The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union). - According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subject to export taxes and will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price and the tax rate is not applied directly on the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it: - Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. - From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10%. This export permit application process can take between 1-2 months maximum. - The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki. THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE FROM SPAIN ASKS ALL SELLERS FOR INVOICES, IMPORT LICENSES AND ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ABLE TO PROVE THE LEGALITY OF EACH ITEM BEFORE PROVIDING AN IMPORT OR EXPORT LICENSE.