Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero, Mezcala culture (Balsas culture), ca. 700 to 200 BCE. A fine miniature example of a Mezcala greenstone carving, a standing figure, clearly human, but created from string-cut lines and with very simple, magnified features. The type of stone it is made out of is a smooth grey-green andesite, a volcanic rock that, although hard and therefore difficult to carve, was heavily favored by the Mezcala and used to create many of their human form sculptures and some of their architectural models. These were carved in the form of symbolic axe heads. We do not know what figures like these represented, but because they are found in tombs, many researchers believe that they have something to do with the dead: their spirits, or a type of death mask. Comes with custom stand. Size: 1.45" W x 3.55" H (3.7 cm x 9 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Peter Arnovick collection, San Francisco, CA acquired around 1980

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#118678

Surface crack down lower body; slight wear to form