

About the Object
The relatively small Chontal standing figure seen here was created from mottled dark green diorite stone. It has been worked with pecking to create the hollowed-out eyes, shaped nose, arms, and legs, and is likely fashioned from a celt, or stone hand axe.
Additional Information
There is evidence that the Mezcala-Chontal traded with the Olmec culture centered on the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico. While this object has not been definitively dated, it was most likely created between 700 BCE and 400 BCE, and perhaps as late as 250 CE.
Spencer Throckmorton Collection, New York, NY;
Gift to The Jan T. and Marica Vilcek Collection, 1995;
Related Objects
Mezcala-Chontal Standing Figure with “Coffee Bean” Mouth and Eyes (M-26)
c. 1200 BCE (Alternative Date: 300-100 BCE, Late Preclassic) Unknown Artist
You may also be interested in
2021
Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise
in Filmmaking
Juan Pablo González
Juan Pablo González receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Filmmaking for the artistic rigor and deep emotional engagement that he brings to his immersive and intimate explorations of his hometown in rural Mexico.
2021
Vilcek Prize
in Filmmaking
Rodrigo Prieto
Rodrigo Prieto receives the Vilcek Prize in Filmmaking for his virtuosity and versatility—the sheer excellence and inventiveness of his work across styles and genres—and his central role in creating some of contemporary cinema’s most indelible works.
2019
Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise
in Culinary Arts
Fabián von Hauske Valtierra
Fabián Von Hauske Valtierra receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Culinary Arts for combining diverse, international culinary influences into a singular voice that is ambitious, experimental, and accessible.