Sculpture of four columns with a recumbent figure on top and a staircase on the base.
Sculpture of four columns with a recumbent figure on top and a staircase on the base.

About the Object

This Mezcala-style object was carved by its unknown artist in unidentified light green stone that is most likely serpentine. It depicts four columns, stairs, and a platform, leading scholars to believe these types of Mezcala pieces depict temples or important architectural sites. The human-like Mezcala figure lying on the top of the temple may represent links with astronomy, sacrifice, fertility, death, and the afterlife.

 

Additional Information

While the abstract forms of the Mezcala and Chontal tradition have led many scholars to view them as primitive, in reality they reflect a great deal of cultural complexity, including agriculture, spirituality, ritual trade, social differentiation, and even a complex grasp of physics.

[Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, NY];

New York. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Design for Eternity: Architectural Models from the Ancient Americas, October 26, 2015-September 18, 2016.

Related Objects

Mezcala Temple with Four Columns and Recumbent Figure

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Sculpture of a four column temple with a reclining figure on the top and a staircase carved into the base.

Mezcala Four-Column, Three-Dimensional Temple

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Three dimensional temple sculpture with four revolving columns.

Mezcala Temple with Sun and Figure

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Stone sculpture of a four column temple with a reclining figure on the top, a staircase in the center, and circular indentation at the architrave.

Mezcala Two Column Temple

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Stone sculpture of two columns joined by a set of stairs leading forward.

Mezcala Four Column Temple with Rounded Top

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Stone sculpture of a four column temple with a staircase and rounded architrave.

Mezcala Standing Figure (M-10 Type)

Unknown Unknown Artist
Small abstract stone carving of a standing human figure.

Mezcala Standing Figure (M-10 Type)

Unknown Unknown Artist
Small, abstract stone carving of a standing human figure with broad, pointed facial features and folded hands upon its round abdomen.

Mezcala-Chontal Standing Figure (M-14 Type)

1800-1200 BCE Unknown Artist
Brown stone figure with geometric cuts and hollows indicating physical and facial features.

Mezcala Figure (M-4 Type)

600-400 BCE Unknown Artist
Abstract stone sculpture of a standing figure with indentations indicating facial features and arms at torso.

Mezcala-Chontal Mask

1800-1200 BCE Unknown Artist
A stone mask with indented facial features and inlaid shell to represent the eyes.

You may also be interested in

January 27, 2021

Postmodern pioneer: Manga biography celebrates Denise Scott Brown

Denise Scott Brown leads off manga series, illustrated by Japanese-born Hiroki Otsuka, saluting Vilcek Foundation Prizewinners.
A black and white manga illustration of Denise Scott Brown.
2018 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Architecture

James Leng

Born in China
James Leng receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Architecture for his investigations into the role of defunct buildings and his vision for public, social uses of infrastructure.
Portrait of James Leng
2018 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Architecture

Jing Liu

Born in China
Jing Liu receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Architecture for her innovative interdisciplinary work and for developing new approaches to urban housing.
Portrait of Jing Liu