Lot 285
**First Time At Auction**
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero, Mezcala culture (Balsas culture), ca. 700 to 200 BCE, probably early in that period based on style. A beautiful cut grey-green andesite head that, using simple lines, suggests a human face dominated by a prominent nose, with gentle impressions for eyes and large "ear flaps" projecting from either side. A single perforation has been drilled through the top, which is characteristic of heads from this region. This style is similar to an M12, which is described by Gay and Pratt (see below) as an early form of carved head. Comes with custom stand. Size: 2.85" L x 3.2" W x 3.25" H (7.2 cm x 8.1 cm x 8.3 cm); height on stand: 7.15" (18.2 cm)
The type of stone it is made out of is a smooth grey-green andesite, a volcanic rock that, although hard and therefore difficult to carve, was heavily favored by the Mezcala and used to create many of their human form sculptures and some of their architectural models. 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.
cf, Gay, C. and Pratt, F. 1992 "Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero, Mexico", Balsas Publication, Switzerland.
Provenance: collection of the late Peter Arnovick, San Francisco, California, USA
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#122786
- Condition: Small losses and chips on surface.
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