MEZCALA, GUERRERO, Mexique, 350-100 av. J.-C. Lot n° 48

Pendant representing a human face, h. 8 cm. This somewhat "futuristic" looking pendant-mask comes from the Guerrero region, a mountainous area in western Mexico, known to collectors for the lapidary traditions that flourished there before our era and which stand out for the mysterious energy of their productions and their minimalist style bordering on abstraction. Carved with vigour, this perfectly oval face is crossed by several deep and clear lines of force. The short forehead is encircled by an engraving accentuating the presence of thick, rectangular and raised eyebrows. The eyes are not figured, they come to life when a shadow is cast in the hollow below. Strangely enough, the sculptor has also marked the middle of the face, under the tip of the nose, giving the impression that the figure is wearing a mask. In addition, two furrows forming an x highlight the imposing nose and the glabella, the space between the eyebrows. A process that gives a powerful character to this interiorized and concentrated face. The lower part of the face is flat, with only the mouth emerging with thick lips. A detail that contrasts with the style of Mezcala's figures, which consist of a few rectilinear and geometric lines and planes, skilfully distributed but without any naturalistic detail. Two suspension holes in the forehead (one broken) were used to hang this object on the chest of an important dignitary.