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 soft curves of the abstract
exterior. This particular mold replicates the
form of a reptile, apparently a frog. The most
prominent features are the creature’s spiny back,
webbed hind feet, bulbous stomach, and smiling
face. This little mold, as functional as it is, was
once used to create images of gods and sacred
animals. 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.6097)
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