Lot 28

The Guerrero region of modern southwestern Mexico, which encompasses alluvial plains and barren mountainous areas, was the epicenter of the Mezcala and Chontal stone carving traditions. The Mezcala sculptural style emphasizes geometric abstraction in both human figures and architectural models whereas Chontal works have an added naturalism. Even though this lapidary tradition is placed in the Preclassic period, ca. 300-100 B. C., it is clear that these portable stone figures were preserved by later Mesoamerican peoples as heirlooms. In fact, large numbers have been in excavated in ritual caches at the Templo Mayor, the main temple of the fifteenth-century Aztecs (Mexica) of Tenochititlan (Mexico City). In the 20th century, these minimalistic Mezcala and Chontal art works attracted such artists as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Miguel Covarrubias, the latter, comparing them to the serene and monumental Cycladic style of ancient Greece.

CHONTAL STONE MASK

LATE PRECLASSIC, CA. 300-100 B. C

Details

CHONTAL STONE MASK
Late Preclassic, ca. 300-100 B. C
Of thick section, with pierced eyes and mouth, jutting circular cheeks, pointed chin and pronounced brow ridge; in grey-green speckled andesite, pierced four times for attachment.
Height: 6 3/8 in. (16.3 cm.); width: 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm.)

Provenance

Acquired in the 1960s

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

"Chontal" might derive from the Aztecs who called the inhabitants of the region of modern day Guerrero state which occupies the territory between the Iguala and the Balsas river, directly north of the Mezcala region, "Chontales". Chontal sculpture consists for the most part of stone masks, heads, and to a lesser degree, of seated and standing figures. Within this loose label there is a wide assortment of types but one marked feature is a greater emphasis on naturalistic style in contrast to the geometric abstraction of Mezcala works.
Cf. Chontal, pl. 93

More from Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas including Property from the Estate of Ernst Beyeler

View All