Teotihuacan stone mask, Classic, ca. A.D. 450-650

sensitively carved with sculpted lips gently parted and wideset  narrowing oval eyes marked by pyrite and pigment remains, lines extending from the nostrils along the cheeks and the high ears pierced and incised; of deep section, in mottled stone, pierced for suspension at the top of the head, chin and four corners of the face.

Mr. and Mrs. Julian R. Goldsmith, acquired in the 1960's, gift to The Art Institute of Chicago in 1991

Chicago, High Culture in the Americas before 1500, catalogue by Everett McNear, The Arts Club, November 15-December 31, 1982, cat. no. 68, illus.

On view in The Art Institute of Chicago, 1992-2012

Excellent, intact with minor old chips: PR eye small chip on upper lid, PL eye corner has old chip, PR ear on back has some loss, and small area on bottom of chin shows old chip.
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The great city of Teotihuacan was established by the 2nd century AD growing to one of the largest cities in the world by the 6th century. The city's location and plan were based on the natural alignment of the sacred mountains and caves in the area, and the manmade grid imposed uniformly along their axis. The stone masks are among the best known, most emblematic and impressive forms of sculpture from this metropolis. Though their forms are idealized, they were made in a variety of styles and proportions, differing also in the addition of pigment and stone and shell inlay ornamentation. The masks, customized to represent various powerful deities, were attached to ceremonial effigy figures and displayed at the most elite temples. Unlike large complete stone figures which may have been more fixed to one location, the masks could be transported and used throughout the city and region. 

See Berrin and Pasztory (1993:cat. nos. 24 and 26), for masks of similar style; see also a Teotihuacan mask found in the Templo Mayor distinctly painted with red pigment (Les Azteques, Trésors du Mexique Ancien, an exhibition in Museés Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Brussels, 1987:cat. no. 328).