Lot 18B
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero, Mezcala culture (Balsas culture), ca. 700 to 200 BCE. This is a beautiful cut greenstone mask that, using simple lines, immediately creates an expressive human face with a long, thin nose, a strong brow line, and small, opened mouth and eyes. The symmetry of the eyes and mouth are particularly pleasing; all of these features are classic Mezcala, who are famous for their greenstone masks. Mezcala and the vast city state of Teotihuacan influenced each other, and masks seem to have been a major part of their artistic output. The mask would have been carved using string cutting and the surface abraded using sandstone to make it smoother. Greenstone was more valuable than gold in Mesoamerica, and this would have been a valuable item, perhaps buried with its owner, an important person, to mark their passing and give them identity in the grave. Outside the grave, the dead were sometimes represented in art merely by a mask, or a mask set upon a small pyramid. Masks from this place and period are on display in many museums, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museo de America in Madrid, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum. Size: 5.75" W x 6" H (14.6 cm x 15.2 cm)
Provenance: Ex-West Palm Beach Florida Private Collection / Ex-Auction Gallery of the Palms
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#113713
- Condition: Expected wear and smoothing with very minor chipping to upper edges; form and shape are excellent.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |