This work of art, an ancient sculptor’s mold,
grants us a unique insight into the creative
process of Mayan artists. Such a mold would
have been used in the fabrication of small
terracotta sculptures. Pressed into the wet clay,
the intricately carved pattern of the mold would
be replicated. The highly detailed pattern of the
interior belies the smooth, curved forms of the
abstract exterior. This particular mold replicates
the front half of a deity crowned with an arching
headdress. He stands with the form of a human
body, but his head has been depicted with skull-
like features, including deeply recessed eyes and
a wide-open mouth. It is also likely that this
mold depicts a priest or king disguised as the
god of the dead or the underworld. This little
mold, as functional as it is, even today, was once
used to create images of gods. That idols worthy
of worship could be created from this mold
implies that the mold itself has some inherent
power. Clearly, in the hands of a master
sculptor, this mold has the power to embody and
give form to the gods. Today, this mold is a relic
of ancient artistry, transplanted from an ancient
Mayan workshop into our hands, linking us
directly with the creative process of long
forgotten sculptors.
- (PF.6103)
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