Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero state, Mezcala culture, ca. 1000 to 400 BCE. A finely-detailed anthropomorphic figure, hand-carved from a dark green stone with light inclusions, standing atop delineated legs and a slender waist. A pair of attenuated arms are held tightly against the torso, and planar shoulders taper gently to a thick neck. The simplistic visage is comprised of grooved eyes, a prominent nose, a rounded chin, and an abstract mouth, all on a roughly-triangular face with a conical brow. The delineated features, including the arms, legs, torso, and mouth, are all created using the meticulous string-cutting technique. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 4.125" H (10.5 cm); 4.375" H (11.1 cm) on included custom stand.

The Mezcala sculptors brilliantly used string-saw technology to differentiate facial features and limbs. The ancient artisans of this region were particularly adept at reducing the human body to simple, eloquent forms via this string cut technique. The result ironically appeals to a modernist taste for minimalism. Mezcala sculptural works are equally appealing for the inherent beauty of the stone selected by the ancients. This example is skillfully-carved and full of character indicative of typical high-quality Mezcala sculptures!

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA

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#131929

  • Condition: Age-commensurate surface wear, loss to top of head, some discoloration, and small nicks to face, limbs, and peripheries, otherwise excellent. Nice earthen deposits throughout.

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April 5, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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