Mezcala Stone Face Panel with an Inlaid Shell Eye - PF.5560,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style:  More »

Mezcala Stone Face Panel with an Inlaid Shell Eye - PF.5560,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone and Shell.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5561,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 ADDimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium:  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5561,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 ADDimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. Like a miniature Easter Island idol, this statue stands with open legs, folded arms, and a dominant protruding forehead. This statue is a symbol for the most universal human instincts. The drives of survival, of procreation, of making sense out of the unknown. Often, these most inherent instincts are also the most complex. The shape of the figure echoes the form of the phallus. At the same time this celt might have been used as a pestle to grind wheat or corn. Thus, as the women of the tribe prepared the meals, they were utilizing the symbol of male fertility., associating the ideas of nourishment and procreation. Simultaneously, this statue also invokes the gods. Religion exists at the edges of human understanding. God is the answer we create for the incomprehensible. As ancient man assessed his place in the world, he was vulnerable to the unknown forces of nature and disease. God exists to calm our fears and give us the sense of control over that which is uncontrollable. A statue like this one is a link with the past, yet it is also a reminder of what makes us all human. A symbol for the destructive forces that work against us and the energies that bring us together.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5809,Origin: Guererro, MexicoCirca: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 5.25" (13.3cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium:  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5809,Origin: Guererro, MexicoCirca: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 5.25" (13.3cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. This sculpture exudes a force of the ages. It has witnessed the passage of seasons and the passage of civilizations. Today it stands as the reminder of a forgotten era. However, superstition still pervades our modern society and our understanding of the universe and science still cannot provide the answers we long for. God is still the great unknown, be it scientific or religious. God will always exist at the limits of our understanding. Like a miniature idol from Easter Island, this stone figure stands with open legs, arms held to the sides, and protruding jaw and forehead. The actual contours of the statue echo the form of a phallus. Most likely, this statue would have been worn around the neck as a pendant, perhaps in order to invoke the divine favor of the fertility gods. The power present in this statue is as real today as it was in ancient times. The vital components of life never change. This image of fertility and the divine is as relevant to our reality as it was to those who carved it.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5810,Origin: Guererro, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.75" (17.1cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium:  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5810,Origin: Guererro, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.75" (17.1cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. This sculpture exudes a force of the ages. It has witnessed the passage of seasons and the passage of civilizations. Today it stands as the reminder of a forgotten era. However, superstition still pervades our modern society and our understanding of the universe and science still cannot provide the answers we long for. God is still the great unknown, be it scientific or religious. God will always exist at the limits of our understanding. Like a miniature idol from Easter Island, this stone figure stands with open legs, arms held to the sides, and protruding jaw and forehead. The actual contours of the statue echo the form of a phallus. Most likely, this statue would have been used as a pestle to grind up corn or wheat. Thus as the women of the tribe prepared the food, they would have held in their hands the symbol of male fertility, linking the immediate survival of the community through food with the procreation of the species through copulation. All at the same time invoking the favors of the gods. The power present in this statue is as real today as it was in ancient times. The vital components of life never change. This image of fertility, of nourishment, of the divine, is as relevant to our reality as it was to those who carved it.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5429,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.75" (17.1cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium:  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5429,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.75" (17.1cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. This sculpture exudes a force of the ages. It has witnessed the passage of seasons and the passage of civilizations. Today it stands as the reminder of a forgotten era. However, superstition still pervades our modern society and our understanding of the universe and science still cannot provide the answers we long for. God is still the great unknown, be it scientific or religious. God will always exist at the limits of our comprehension of life and the universe. Like a miniature idol from Easter Island, this stone figure stands with open legs, arms held to the sides, and protruding jaw and forehead. If inverted, the figure transforms into the head of a jaguar, the sacred beast of the jungles of Mexico, much like shamans were thought to transmogrify into wild animals. The open legs become ears, the carved diagonal lines that indicate arms become eyes, and the figure’s face becomes the feline’s muzzle. Meanwhile, the actual contours of the statue also echo the form of a phallus. Most likely, this statue would have been used as a pestle to grind up corn or wheat. Thus as the women of the tribe prepared the food, they would have held in their hands the symbol of male fertility, linking the immediate survival of the community through food with the procreation of the species through copulation. All at the same time invoking the favors of the gods. The power present in this statue is as real today as it was in ancient times. The vital components of life never change. This image of fertility, of nourishment, of the divine, is as relevant to our reality as it was to those who carved it.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5430,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 ADDimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone.  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.5430,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 ADDimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. This sculpture exudes a force of the ages. It has witnessed the passage of seasons and the passage of civilizations. Today it stands as the reminder of a forgotten era. However, superstition still pervades our modern society and our understanding of the universe and science still cannot provide the answers we long for. God is still the great unknown, be it scientific or religious. God will always exist at the limits of our understanding. Like a miniature Easter Island idol, this stone figure stands with open legs, folded arms, and protruding jaw and forehead. The actual contours of the statue echo the form of a phallus. Most likely, this statue would have been used as a pestle to grind up corn or wheat. Thus as the women of the tribe prepared the food, they would have held in their hands the symbol of male fertility, linking the immediate survival of the community through food with the procreation of the species through copulation. All at the same time invoking the favors of the gods. The power present in this statue is a real today as it was in ancient times. The basic essentials of life never change. This image of fertility, of nourishment, of the divine, is as relevant to our reality as it was to those who carved it.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure with a Cap - PF.5431,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style:  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure with a Cap - PF.5431,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. The common quest of all civilizations is timeless: survival. While our individual perceptions of the world may change and realities may be altered, since the dawn of man we have all yearned to become eternal through procreation and reproduction. This stone sculpture represents this most elementary struggle. Like a miniature Easter Island idol, the figure stands with open legs, folded arms, and protruding jaw and forehead. A small cap crowns his head. The contours of the statue, excluding the crown, echo the form of a phallus. Most likely, this statue would have been used as a pestle to grind up corn or wheat. Thus as the women of the tribe prepared the food, they would have held in their hands the symbol of male fertility, linking the immediate survival of the community through food with the procreation of the species through copulation. All at the same time invoking the favors of the gods. What may be mistaken for a simple carving by primitives, is in actuality a mighty symbol for all that sustains us, for the basic core of human existence.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Female Figure - PF.4980,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 500 AD,Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style:  More »

Mezcala Stone Standing Female Figure - PF.4980,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 500 AD,Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone. Standing stone figures of males and females are virtually all that remains from the enigmatic people of Ancient Mezcala. It is known, however, that female figures are rare, which makes this one particularly special. The stark abstraction of the carving is based upon angular lines ending in sharp points. The arms are absolutely vertical and very long, especially in comparison to the short legs. Small breasts placed in perfect proportion to the area of the chest, add a beautifully rounded touch. The head is quite large and very powerful; particularly the overhanging brows, sharp nose and chin which combine to create a marvelous effect of shadow in different angles of light. Though similar to 'Axe-Gods' of Costa Rica, this statue also possesses the monumental character of the great standing figures of Tula. We can see in it something larger than life, towering above its actual size, standing for the gods the people of Mezcala revered.   « Less

Mezcala Greenstone Standing Figure - PF.4981,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.875" (17.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style:  More »

Mezcala Greenstone Standing Figure - PF.4981,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6.875" (17.5cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Greenstone. Only a few types of archaeological artifacts remain as witness to the Mezcala culture; including standing figures, funerary masks, and miniature stone temples. All three point to a developed religion, which utilized artists to give visual expression to belief. This very fine male figure stands in a rigid pose with his long arms absolutely vertical, and his hands placed precisely over his lower abdomen. His deep set eyes show considerable expression; as does the simple but effective horizontal groove of the mouth. Angularity and high abstraction are characteristic features of Mezcala statues, though this particular one bears more 'realistic' elements than many. The prong shaped legs suggest the statue was made to be inserted into the ground, perhaps as part of a group of figures in a ceremonial setting. There is something serious about this figure; and at the same time very affectionate in the way he looks at us with wonder and innocence.   « Less

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.6236b,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6" (15.2cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone.

Mezcala Stone Standing Figure - PF.6236b,Origin: Guerrero, Mexico,Circa: 300 BC to 300 AD,Dimensions: 6" (15.2cm) high,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Mezcala,Medium: Stone.   « Less