**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero, Mezcala, ca. 500 to 200 BCE. A gorgeous face maskette, finely string-cut from an inherently beautiful dark greenstone with white inclusions. According to expert Carlo Gay, relatively few face panels or maskettes have been recorded compared to the number of carved stone figures, making this piece quite rare. This visage displays traits of types M-22 and M-24. There is also a somewhat subtle morphologic relationship between faces of M-24 figures and those of Teotihuacan figural traditions with its triangular construction and angularity. According to expert Carlo Gay, M-22 and M-24 types, "exemplify the result of the gradual changes undergone by the Mezcala style over a long period of time, and emphasize the subtle evolutionary process with a more descriptive form of sculpture." (Carlo Gay, "Mezcala Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero Mexico," New York: Balsas Publications, 1992, p. 89) An extremely rare, expertly carved, and breathtakingly beautiful example. Bilaterally perforated for suspension. Custom, museum-quality stand. Size: 2.25" W x 2.625" H (5.7 cm x 6.7 cm); 4.375" H (11.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private S. W. collection, Los Angeles, California, USA

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#125178

Only minor surface wear. Near choice!