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Premium MILLON
38
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- Mask of a dignitary with a vigorous expression.
See original version (French)
38
-
- Mask of a dignitary with a vigorous expression.
See original version (French)
Estimate €12,000 - €18,000
Voluntary lot
Description
- Mask of a dignitary
with a vigorous expression.
Veined and speckled green stone, minor chips, age mark.
Olmec, Guerrero region, 900 - 550 BC
15.5 × 13.5 × 5.5 cm
Provenance :
Former Art des Amériques gallery, Paris
Sale Desbenoit, Fierfort, Paris, Drouot, 29 May 2009, catalogue no. 41 (reproduced on cover)
The Olmecs, whose original home was on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, exerted considerable influence throughout Mesoamerica, as far south as Costa Rica. Their mastery of stonework, particularly in green rock, is testimony to their high-precision lapidary skills, in the service of an iconography that is still largely shrouded in mystery.
This mask, with its bold front, wide-open eyes and feline mouth, is a perfect illustration of this aesthetic. The tension of the volumes and the expressive strength of the face reflect an idealised representation of power, supported by a highly intense formal style typical of Olmec production.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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