Mayan Jade Mask, 500 AD to 900 AD
Jade
21 x 18 cm
8 1/4 x 7 1/8 in
8 1/4 x 7 1/8 in
GM.0028
A beautiful example of Mayan Mask in jadeite. Jadeite is a rare variety of greenstone, and most probably originated from the Motagua River valley in present-day Guatemala, the only known...
A beautiful example of Mayan Mask in jadeite. Jadeite is a rare variety of greenstone, and most probably originated from the Motagua River valley in present-day Guatemala, the only known source of jadeite in ancient Mesoamerica. Jadeite is an extremely dense rock with a relative hardness value equivalent to or even greater than that of steel.
The summit of the classical age in Ancient Central America (c. 200 AD - 900 AD) was reached by the Maya, famed for their magnificent cities adorned by monumental temples. In those temple cities, great artistic expressions such as murals and sculptures flourished. It is during this classical period in which artists refined their skills to represent the human form and representations of their gods.
Mayan figures very well depict the distinct Mayan physical characteristics such as the high cheekbones, fleshy and hooked nose, heavy lidded eyes, and fleshy lips. This remarkably sculpted Mayan mask displays such attributes. The exquisite mask is a depiction of a man's face, possibly a representation of a priest or a deity wearing large earspools. The eyes present some cosmetic lines ending in fine decorative volutes. The fleshy mouth is open to reveal the indication of the teeth, impressively realised through drillings of the extremely hard rock. Thee nose is wide and prominent, realised with great attention to each part, with the tongue summarily sculpted as a triangle on the lower lip.
Skillfully carved, the artist managed to portray human features with great accuracy and infused them with a great dramatic effect. This mask was probably used in rituals/ceremonies or was worn over the face at burial. As we look into the mask, we are amazed to see how the artist captured such exquisite beauty and emotion in a small mask, creating a veritable passport between us and the Mayan world.. Whether the mask represent a deity or a respected dignitary in the Mayan society, his poignant essence comes through strongly just as it did more than a thousand years ago.
Dimension given without mounting.
The summit of the classical age in Ancient Central America (c. 200 AD - 900 AD) was reached by the Maya, famed for their magnificent cities adorned by monumental temples. In those temple cities, great artistic expressions such as murals and sculptures flourished. It is during this classical period in which artists refined their skills to represent the human form and representations of their gods.
Mayan figures very well depict the distinct Mayan physical characteristics such as the high cheekbones, fleshy and hooked nose, heavy lidded eyes, and fleshy lips. This remarkably sculpted Mayan mask displays such attributes. The exquisite mask is a depiction of a man's face, possibly a representation of a priest or a deity wearing large earspools. The eyes present some cosmetic lines ending in fine decorative volutes. The fleshy mouth is open to reveal the indication of the teeth, impressively realised through drillings of the extremely hard rock. Thee nose is wide and prominent, realised with great attention to each part, with the tongue summarily sculpted as a triangle on the lower lip.
Skillfully carved, the artist managed to portray human features with great accuracy and infused them with a great dramatic effect. This mask was probably used in rituals/ceremonies or was worn over the face at burial. As we look into the mask, we are amazed to see how the artist captured such exquisite beauty and emotion in a small mask, creating a veritable passport between us and the Mayan world.. Whether the mask represent a deity or a respected dignitary in the Mayan society, his poignant essence comes through strongly just as it did more than a thousand years ago.
Dimension given without mounting.