Lot 139
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz culture, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A haunting pair of ceramic heads or miniature masks; a human skull and a stylized bat head, both are hollow with wide openings and attachment holes that indicate they may have been made to be worn by articulated sculptures of warriors or shamans. The skull has large, bulging eyes painted black using bitumen, a gaping nasal hole, and a leering grin with delineated teeth. Mesoamericans created artwork of disembodied heads that symbolize trophy heads taken from captives and sacrificial victims. The delightful yet grotesque bat head features huge ears, bulging eyes also painted with bitumen, and a long snout. The partially opened mouth reveals sharp teeth and a long tongue that hangs over the front of the mask. Ancient Mesoamericans associated bats with death and the underworld; this mask would have looked fearsome in its original context. Size (skull): 2.9" W x 3" H (7.4 cm x 7.6 cm); (bat): 3.25" W x 2.2" H (8.3 cm x 5.6 cm)
Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection; (skull) ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, USA; ex-private New York, USA collection from the 1960s; (bat) ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-Lands Beyond Gallery, Ken Bower, New York, USA, acquired in the 2000s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#170454
- Condition: Skull has hairline fracture from one side of the lower jaw to the inside of the opposite eye. Light deposits on surface with nice preservation of motifs. Bat is intact. This helmet would have once been part of a larger sculpture. Light deposits on surface with great preservation of details.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 26.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |