Description:

Pre-Columbian, Guerrero, Mexico, Mezcala style, ca. 300 BCE. This is a good size carved green stone standing figure with a wide head, with simple circular drilled eyes, a ridge nose, and a slightly open mouth. This particular example strongly resembles type M-16, which is described by Gay and Pratt (see below). 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. Size: 9.6" H (24.4 cm)

cf, Gay, C. and Pratt, F. 1992 Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero, Mexico, Balsas Publication, Switzerland.

Provenance: Ex American collection, from California, Susan Burns who inherited it from her father who acquired it long ago 1950s or 1960s.

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#115571

  • Condition: Expected wear with minor losses.

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June 22, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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