450 – 750 A.D.
Mask representing a human face with geometrical and simplified features. The sensual mouth with its full lips expresses the vital breath. The eyes are almond-shaped and the nose is straight. The forehead is flat. The rectangular-shaped ears with its pierced lobes must have been adorned with earrings. Two lateral suspension holes are located above and below both ears.
The gentle expression conveyed by the mask translates a serene and hieratic attitude which is reinforced by the choice of translucent alabaster. The purity of the mineral and the transcendental look symbolize the idealization of the great Teotihuacan civilization.
Teotihuacan, «the city of Gods» (name given by the Aztecs) extending from 150 A.D to 650 A.D flourished in the basin of Mexico dominating Mesoamerica. The prestige and authority of the magnificent religious, economic, and political capital extended from the Mexican gulf coast to the north of the state of Oaxaca. If the monumental architecture of the site is famous the independent lithic production of Teotihuacan is much scarcer. The objects that were discovered were essentially masks, statuettes and pendants, all revealing a high level of technique and refinement, just like our mask. This art is characterized by the purity of features, obtained by the use of geometrical traits, which reveals a certain will to reach perfection in a society where the divine was omnipresent.
Provenance : Guy Joussemet ancient collection.
