Description:

Pre-Columbian, Valley of Mexico, Aztec, ca. 1200 to 1532 CE. A wonderful tenon of a sizable form carved from porous volcanic stone of an earthy grey hue. The tapered conical body gradually expands to present an integral skull on the front. The stylized skull boasts deep incisions that form the nose, teeth, and eye sockets, and traces of warm vermilion pigment are still visible in the grooves. Tenons like this example were set into wall mortises with other, similar tenons. In Aztec mythology, skulls often symbolized Mictlantecuhtli (Lord of Mictlan), the god of the dead and the king of the lowest section of the underworld, Mictlan. Size: 12.75" L x 5.125" W x 7" H (32.4 cm x 13 cm x 17.8 cm); 9.5" H (24.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private America's Heritage, LLC collection, San Antonio, Texas, USA

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#148022

  • Condition: Losses to tip of body and areas of skull, with fading to areas of pigmentation, and age-commensurate softening to some finer details. Nice traces of red pigmentation on skull, and great earthen deposits throughout.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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