Huge Guerrero Mezcala Greenstone Type M-14 Figure

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Exceptional Day 2: Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 3, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-10-03 10:00:00 2019-10-03 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 2: Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-2-pre-columbian-tribal-art-4453
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Pre-Columbian from the ancient Americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial and fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Guerrero region, Mezcala culture, ca. 300 to 100 BCE. An abstract standing anthropomorphic figure of a massive size, hand-carved from dark green stone with beige and grey inclusions. The type M-14 figure exhibits deep clefts delineating the legs and plateaued abdomen, diagonal arms in relief atop the smooth chest, and deep biconical wells form the arms beneath angular shoulders. Atop the narrow neck rests an oversized head bearing bar-shaped eyebrows, a diamond-shaped mouth, trapezoidal ears, and a tall brow that tapers to a thick ridge. Ancient Mezcala artisans were adept at reducing the human form down to minimal, elegant shapes via the meticulous string-sawing technique, and this sizable statue exemplifies their penchant for beauty in simplicity. Lucite display stand for photography purposes only. Size: 6" W x 16.7" H (15.2 cm x 42.4 cm).
  
  According to Carlo Gay, M-14 figures have spaces between their legs and arms "in an ongoing attempt to achieve a viable human image in stone." This example has a space between the legs as well as spaces between the arms. According to Gay and Pratt, ". . . there are comparatively few recorded M-14 figures - accounting for only 5 percent of the total number of representations of the human form . . ." Gay and Pratt also discuss an intriguing connection between M-14 figures and Mezcala architectural models created in the mountainous region of Guerrero between 300 to 100 BCE - "the space between the arms and the body being technically identical to the space between the posts of the models . . ." (Carlo Gay and Frances Pratt, "Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero Mexico", New York: Balsas Publications, 1992, p. 67)
  
  For several examples of Type M-14 figures, please see: Gay, Carlo and Frances Pratt. "Mezcala: Ancient Stone Sculpture from Guerrero Mexico." Balsas Publications, New York, 1992, pp. 66-71, figs. 7a & b, plates 54-57.
  
  This piece is accompanied by a scientific report from Stoetzer, Inc. Fine Art Services, report #08.07.18.1
  
  Provenance: private Lexington, Kentucky, USA collection; ex-private Dallas, Texas, USA collection, acquired in 1965
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #150036

  Condition

  Minor nicks to top of head, with abrasions to limbs, body, and head, otherwise intact and near-choice. Light earthen deposits and smooth surfaces throughout.
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