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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Skull Masks and Sculptures : Stone Skull Maskette
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Stone Skull Maskette - CK.0692
Origin: Costa Rica
Dimensions:
5.125" (13.0cm) high
x 4.25" (10.8cm) wide
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Medium: Stone
Additional Information: SOLD
$9,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
In general, Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans
believed that the universe embraced the
heavens
and underworld as one. There was no
separation
between the terrestrial world and the
realm of
the supernatural. Everyday experience
incorporated these two worlds together;
it was a
basic aspect of their reality. Thus, the
world of
the dead was closely integrated into the
world of
the living. Deceased ancestors were
believed to
have powerful influences upon the
living. Major
festivals honored the dead. Most likely,
this mask
represented the death deity and would
have been
worn in such an elaborate ceremony. By
appeasing the death deity through
ritual, the
ancient Costa Ricans may have felt that
their
ancestors would be safe in the
Underworld and
in turn have favorable influences upon
the living.
Or perhaps, the death deity acted as an
intermediary for the humans to
communicate
with the deceased. Due to their
perception of the
unity of the terrestrial worlds and the
Underworld
as one, we can only imagine that this
mask and
the ritual performances in honor of the
death
deity had good intentions for all: the
gods,
humans and the dead.
- (CK.0692)
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