Description:

Pre-Columbian, Guerrero, Mexico, Mezcala style, ca. 300 BCE. We see a fair number of wonderful Mezcala stone carvings; however, this janus figure is relatively rare. Carved with back-to-back profile images of standing anthropomorphic entities from a gorgeous light grey stone with charcoal grey and white inclusions, the facial and body features are finely string-cut in near perfect symmetry. Custom stand. Perforated at head(s) for suspension. Size: 1.25" W x 3.875" H (3.2 cm x 9.8 cm); 4.125" H (10.5 cm) on stand

According to scholar Carlo Gay, such twin figures are quite rare. He writes, "Possibly, in general, joined figures were simply meant to portray twins or, in addition, were considered in the context of the duality concept. Speculating further, they may have been significant in reference to lunar symbolism whereby the two, in the case of the Mezcala usually facing in opposite directions, personified the spirits of the first and last quarters of the lunar cycle. (Gay, "Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero, Mexico" New York and Switzerland: Balsas Publications, 1992, p. 120)

For similar examples see, Carlo Gay, "Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero, Mexico" New York and Switzerland: Balsas Publications, 1992, p. 120, plates 112-114.

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection

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#122649

  • Condition: Minor surface wear, overall excellent.

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May 18, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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