Charming Guatemalan Tiger Slingshot

This handsome wooden object is a traditional slingshot hand-carved by a Mayan man in Guatemala.

The feline form is most likely a "tigre" or jaguar, sacred to the ancient Mayan peoples. The finely articulated figure is five inches tall and roughly an inch across.It is dressed in a multi-layered costume carved to suggest stripes or fringes. The charming head is roughly 1.5 inches across.

The wood is very hard and has a lovely patina. It has been in my collection for roughly thirty years.

An excellent addition to any grouping of finely carved traditional objects!