A MEZCALA STONE MONKEY

LATE PRECLASSIC, CA. 300-100 B.C.

Details

A MEZCALA STONE MONKEY
Late Preclassic, ca. 300-100 B.C.
The pendant carved in the form of a seated monkey holding a staff to his left shoulder with long tail extending up the back, the naturalistic face with circular eyes inlaid with mother-of-pearl and pronounced forehead; in green and white streaked stone, pierced through the haunches.
Height 3 1/4 in. (7.5 cm)

Provenance

Carlo Gay Collection

Literature

Carlo Gay and Frances Pratt, Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero Mexico, Geneva, 1992, pl. 169.

Lot Essay

Of all the animals in the repertory of Mezcala zoomorphic representations, monkeys are one of the favored subjects. At times the portrayal of these simians is close to humans but their tails leave no doubt as to their identity.

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