Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Teotihuacan, ca. 3rd to 7th century CE. A finely carved green serpentine standing deity figure, either male or asexual, presenting a characteristically triangular-shaped head with an expressive visage comprised of large, drilled, almond-shaped eyes which probably contained inlays (perhaps obsidian or a different greenstone), elegantly arched brows above that lead to a relatively naturalistic nose with drilled nostrils, an open mouth with lips curled into a feline expression suggesting Olmecoid influence, laugh lines joining nose to the corners of his lips, and gently contoured facial planes. In addition, he wears large perforated round earspools and a removeable tiered hat adorned with an asymmetric angular design motif in low relief - this pattern albeit in reverse also delineates the hairstyle of a figure in the collection of the Museo Arqueologico de Teotihuacan (See Teotihuacan Art from the City of the Gods, fig. 14, p. 178). Custom stand. Size: 6.75" W x 15.625" H (17.1 cm x 39.7 cm); 18" H (45.7 cm) on stand

The sculpture displays a muscular body with modeled surfaces suggestive of biceps, triceps, pectorals, and abdominal muscles. The fingers are delineated via string cut lines, and if one looks closely, it appears that finely incised marks (some of which have survived) once adorned the abdominal and possibly chest areas. Patterns such as interlaced and stepped motifs have been found adorning the bodies and garments of Teotihuacan figures. Also interesting is the fact that sometimes the Aztecs would add glyphs to Teotihuacan period statues. One example in the Hamburgisches Museum fur Volkerkunde features a pair of glyphs on the figure's chest designating two important dates for the Aztecs - 1 Flint (the day that the Aztecs embarked on their migration as well as the date of a victory over their neighbors making their empire a reality) and 13 Reed (the birthdate of the sun - hence the beginning of time). According to Esther Pasztory, "Umberger suggests that the two dates together signified the birth of the Aztec era and the Aztec political empire. The placement of these dates on a Teotihuacan heirloom figure suggests that the Aztecs understood the antiquity of it and correctly associated it with Teotihuacan." (Teotihuacan Art from the City of the Gods, edited by Kathleen Berrin & Esther Pasztory, Thames and Hudson: The Fine Arts of San Francisco, 1993. fig. 187, p. 278)

Provenance: ex collection of Alan Davis, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA acquired from Pretomporary Art

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#124509

Old losses and abraded areas to peripheries of hat, upper ends of head and temples, left ear ornament, feet, and tip of left hand. One nick to tip of nose and one to upper lip. Expected surface wear commensurate with age. Signs of incised glyphs or design motifs on abdomen.