For the Olmecs a mask was an icon of
transformation. When worn by a shaman in a
ritual dance, the mask would take on the
'character' of spirits invoked, and thus add to the
charismatic aura of the shaman. Large masks
often depict images of kings, seen through the
medium of stone or jade as possessing
supernatural qualities. This very lovely mask was
designed either to be worn as part of a necklace,
or hung from wooden armatures as was later a
practice in Teotihuacan. Its features are classic
Olmec, with beautifully curved lines of the
forehead and cheeks, oval eyes, horizontal ears
and full lips. The open mouth is a distinctive
attribute of Olmec masks and may be intended to
express a euphoric state of being. The stone's
natural coloration wonderfully highlighted with
green perfectly suits the facial contours. This
mask is not simply a sculpture, though it is a
beautiful one. It is something full of mysteries
beyond our reckoning that the skill and intent of
a talented artist long ago wished to convey in
eternal stone.
- (PF.4725)
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