Description:

Guatemala, 19th century. Heavy, hard wood mask using old oil-based paints, now with marvelous patina. Masks have played a prominent role in the Maya culture for thousands of years. They were associated with transformation since the earliest times. In colonial Guatemala, face masks continued to be inspiration for dancers who imitated the characters portrayed with animated gestures and sounds during masquerades. This archetypal mask is enigmatic and primal; there is a wonderful rawness of the form. This mask is made from a thick, dense burl wood section and shows an extraordinary amount of age and use, possibly making it well over 100 years old. 8-1/2" H.

Provenance: Collected by Robert Sutter in the area around Joyabaj, El Quiche, Guatemala, ca. late 1970's.

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.

  • Condition: Fine condition

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October 24, 2014 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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