Standing stone figure with a face resembling an Olmec mask with deeply cut eyes and mouth.

About the Object

Expertly carved and polished from green and white stone (probably serpentine), the Teotihuacan figure stands over a foot tall with straight arms and a face evocative of Olmec masks, with flat head, deeply cut eyes and mouth, and drill holes, which were used in daily rituals as well as associated with burials. These features may also have originally contained inlaid materials such as shell or metal. The figure is missing the front of its right foot and may have been damaged in antiquity.

 

Additional Information

The Teotihuacan culture, influenced by civilizations such as the Olmec, in turn had a major impact on Mesoamerican cultures such as the Mixtec and Mexica (Aztecs). This object may have been associated with a burial or temple, or may have been revered as an object for personal devotion among elites. The striking green and white stone (generally valued higher than precious metals) was likely associated with fertility and the cycles of death and rebirth.

I.M. Pei;
Gift to Private Collection;
[Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, NY];

Tags
figure stone Temple Teotihuacan
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