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Lot 78
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Rare Chontal Stone Mask Stylized Anthropomorph
Rare Chontal Stone Mask Stylized Anthropomorph
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Description:

Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Guerrero region, Chontal, Late Preclassic period, ca. 300 to 100 BCE. A fabulous example of a stylized anthropomorphic maskette that is hand-carved from mottled light-green stone with gray, beige, and black inclusions. The substantial face showcases expertly incised features including almond eyes, thick brows, a ribbed panel on one half of the forehead, a prominent nose, and parted lips; the septum is drilled to accommodate a nose ring. Large ears and lobes flank the sides of the head, and the concave verso bears 2 pairs of drilled suspension holes for attaching the maskette to the face of a deceased individual. Size: 3" L x 5" W x 5.125" H (7.6 cm x 12.7 cm x 13 cm); 6.625" H (16.8 cm) on included custom stand.

The Guerrero region of modern-day southwestern Mexico was the center of the Mezcala and Chontal stone carving traditions. While Mezcala artists are known for their abstract, geometric style, the Chontal sculptors imbued their artworks with more naturalism. Although their stonework stems from the Preclassic period, ca. 300 to 100 BCE, later Mesoamerican peoples clearly cherished Chontal portable sculptures as heirlooms. Chontal creations have been unearthed in ritual caches at Templo Mayor, the principal temple of the 15th century Aztecs of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Modernists such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Miguel Covarrubias appreciated the minimalist qualities of Chontal art. Covarrubias went so far as to compare it to the Cycladic style of ancient Greece.

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#179753

  • Condition: Minor pitting commensurate with age, with small nicks, and light earthen deposits, otherwise intact and excellent. Wonderful preservation to facial features. Previous inventory label on verso.

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July 21, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000