A Classic Olmec Stone Maskette Mesoamerica, c. 1200-400 BC Carved from mottled serpentine with variegated ...

Description

A Classic Olmec Stone Maskette
Mesoamerica, c. 1200–400 BC

Carved from mottled serpentine with variegated light and dark blue-green tones and polished to a high gloss, this maskette presents the broad, fleshy physiognomy most associated with classic Olmec carving. The lips are full, and the upper lip is raised in the traditional jaguar-transformation mode, exposing the upper teeth. Drill holes at the corners of the eyes and mouth indicate the former presence of inlay, and four additional perforations, two to each side, provided for attachment. The reverse is carefully hollowed and polished, underscoring the object's refinement and completeness of finish.

Part of the force of the piece lies in the stone itself. The strong veining and mottling animate the surface and deepen the expression of the face, giving the maskette an unusual sense of interior life. The carving is expert and assured, balancing the severity of Olmec abstraction with the softness of fleshy features. A beautifully worked and highly expressive example of Olmec lapidary art. With a custom metal stand. In very good condition; with small areas of erosion and slight desiccation. Minor pits where mineral inclusions have dissolved, leaving shallow surface depressions.

Provenance:
Purchased from Dan Pucara, Lost Arts

Height: 4 ¾ inches

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000.

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