Olmec mask, Mexico c 1200 - 400 BC

Green schist.

On custom black steel mount.

The Olmec were Mesoamerican people whose heartland was located in present-day Mexico from 1200-400 B.C. They excelled in creating fine greenstone sculptures (eg jadeite, schist). The almost life-like quality of this mask belies the hardness of the green schist stone from which it was made.

Although it has been rendered in a naturalistic style, the face itself is not fully human. Rather, it is an idealized composite that alludes to the supernatural: the almond-shaped eyes, slightly downturned mouth, and wide, prominent nose are traits commonly found in depictions of Olmec otherworldly beings.

The use of drilling is also evident in the mask, particularly at the corners of the mouth and eyes. Olmec artists may have carefully placed the drill marks as guidelines for the sculpture, to determine the placement of facial features and to demarcate the depth of the carving. Many of these holes may have been preserved in the finished sculpture for aesthetic effect. Despite the concave depression, this mask was not made to be worn on the face, at least not by the living. Unlike the earlobes, which feature small holes, neither the eyes nor the mouth have been perforated for sight or breath.

Measurements: 11.25” height (on mount), 7.25” height (mask alone), 6 7/8” width

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