Description:

Pre-Columbian, Guerrero, Mexico, Mezcala style, ca. 600 BCE. This is a pale greenstone head with a wide-mouthed look and the classic "coffee bean" eyes of the Chontal style. Mezcala sculpture makes us think about the individual elements of the human form by abstracting them into basic geometric shapes. Sculptures like this one play with planes and depressions. The eyes and mouth would have been drilled out and the shape smoothed using sandstone abrasion. We do not know what these heads represented, but because they are found in tombs, many researchers believe that they have something to do with the dead: their spirits, or a type of death mask. Gay and Pratt also suggest that they may have something to do with the Mezcala lunar religion -- perhaps they helped provide safe passage to the netherworld, which seems to have been located on the Moon. All proceeds from this item will go towards the benefit of 6 animal charities in Taos, NM. Size: 3.5" W x 4.75" H (8.9 cm x 12.1 cm)

Provenance: Ex-private K. Holkza collection via family descent from her sister, acquired in New York, USA before 1975

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#113956

  • Condition: Expected age wear, but features are very clear.

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April 12, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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