Guerrero, Mexico
500–200 BC
Stone
Height 6¼ in. (15.9 cm)
Provenance: Scott Sharp, Cambridge, UK
Stone masks from the Chontal region of Guerrero, Mexico, represent one of the earliest and most formally resolved mask-making traditions of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, characterized by simplified oval faces, almond-shaped eye openings, and restrained surface treatment that emphasizes the material and form over decorative elaboration. This example is carved with a broad face, horizontal slit eyes, and an open mouth, with the surface retaining the texture and weathering consistent with its antiquity. The Chontal style of Guerrero occupies a distinct position within Mexican pre-Columbian art, predating and formally prefiguring later Mesoamerican masking traditions.
The Scott Sharp provenance from Cambridge connects the piece to British collecting of pre-Columbian material, a tradition with deep roots in the academic and museum communities of the United Kingdom. Stone masks of this type and date with documented British collection provenance are seldom encountered on the open market. The combination of formal clarity, surface integrity, and early date places this example at a serious collecting level within Guerrero material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Guerrero, Mexico
500–200 BC
Stone
Height 6¼ in. (15.9 cm)
Provenance: Scott Sharp, Cambridge, UK
Stone masks from the Chontal region of Guerrero, Mexico, represent one of the earliest and most formally resolved mask-making traditions of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, characterized by simplified oval faces, almond-shaped eye openings, and restrained surface treatment that emphasizes the material and form over decorative elaboration. This example is carved with a broad face, horizontal slit eyes, and an open mouth, with the surface retaining the texture and weathering consistent with its antiquity. The Chontal style of Guerrero occupies a distinct position within Mexican pre-Columbian art, predating and formally prefiguring later Mesoamerican masking traditions.
The Scott Sharp provenance from Cambridge connects the piece to British collecting of pre-Columbian material, a tradition with deep roots in the academic and museum communities of the United Kingdom. Stone masks of this type and date with documented British collection provenance are seldom encountered on the open market. The combination of formal clarity, surface integrity, and early date places this example at a serious collecting level within Guerrero material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
