Lot 123A
Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Guerrero region, Mezcala culture, ca. 300 to 100 BCE. A beguiling vision in veined green stone, this abstracted standing figure exemplifies the reductive yet powerfully expressive sculptural traditions of the Mezcala culture of ancient Guerrero. Carved from dark green serpentine with pale green mottling and ancient mineral deposits, the figure is defined by its monolithic form and minimalist features, capturing the human body in its most essential geometry. The oval head is boldly incised with linear grooves suggesting a masklike visage: deeply cut lines delineate a T-shaped brow and nose, and three horizontal lines form a mouth or ceremonial bar. Eyes are rendered as drilled depressions, enhancing the figure's impassive, eternal expression. The neck and arms are subtly articulated by shallow grooves, and the legs are slightly split by a medial cleft running from the pelvis downward. Size: 1.6" L x 2.3" W x 4.5" H (4.1 cm x 5.8 cm x 11.4 cm); 4.8" H (12.2 cm) on included custom stand.
The overall silhouette is balanced, columnar, and self-contained, evoking the quiet force of a deity or ancestral presence. Figures like this one were often placed in tombs or ritual contexts, where they likely served as intermediaries between worlds or embodiments of revered ancestors. Their stylization suggests a deliberate abstraction - not inattention to realism, but an intentional distillation of form, emphasizing timelessness and spiritual potency. Mezcala stone figures remain some of the most enigmatic and alluring of Pre-Columbian artifacts, admired today for their modernist sensibility and preternatural calm. This example, rich in polish and surface texture, captures the essence of that tradition.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#195909
- Condition: Some minor chips, nicks, and abrasions, commensurate with age, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with light earthen deposits in recessed areas.
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