This exceptional mask is a supreme masterwork
of the Teotihuacan group of the Mexico Basin,
and dates to the first half of the first millennium
AD. It is typical of the genre, with a gently
pointed chin, a round-topped brow and curved
cheeks. The structure of the face is deceptively
simple, with finely arched brows, a long, slender
nose and a slightly opened mouth. The contours
of the face are perfectly positioned, executed and
symmetrical. The eyes are raised-rim ovals, and
detailing has been kept to a minimum, with
drilled holes for the nostrils and ears. The entire
face is a masterwork of contemplative serenity,
which is made all the more remarkable if one
considers the hardness of the stone and the
basic array of tools and polishing techniques
(usually involving sand and leather stropping)
that were available at the time.
In its time Teotihuacan was the largest city in the
Americas and was of supreme importance in the
evolution of contemporary and later states such
as the Mayas, Aztecs and the Veracruz group.
They were particularly known for their
architecture, which included several of the most
imposing structures ever built by humans until
well into the 19th and 20th centuries. The
founding of the city (which was actually named
Puh, for “Place of Reeds” by the Maya) took place
in 200 BC and may have been the work of the
Nahua, Totonac or Otomi people, who built other
large city structures throughout Mexico in the
Late Formative period. About five centuries after
its founding the city contained around 100,000
people and covered over eleven square miles.
Most of our knowledge of these people comes
from the assessment of stucco and paint murals
(there is no writing at the site or elsewhere in
the empire), which reached an apogee between
450 and 650 AD. By this time the city was at its
most flamboyant, with enormous avenues, public
buildings and pyramids. The layout is clearly
designed for peaceful residence and the wielding
of political power; military structures and
defences are notably absent. It is instead noted
for its phenomenal craft and art specialisation,
notably in ceramics, metalwork and – for the
current case – stone carving/polishing.
Teotihuacan pieces – and especially masks – are
notable for the phenomenal care taken in their
manufacture, and also for the incredible finish
and symmetry of their execution. The number of
hours required to make such a piece is indicative
of the intended audience’s elite status, in
addition to the fact that only the wealthiest and
most highly stratified society could have
sustained such an extreme specialist as he who
produced this piece. The function of the masks is
not fully understood, but there is some evidence
that they were placed over the features of
important personages upon their burial. Their
weight precludes any possibility that they were
worn during life. The identity of the people they
are intended to represent is also unclear. They do
not specifically resemble any of the characters on
friezes, and it may be that they are a schematic
evocation of a person or spirit without paying
undue attention to their actual features.
Teotihuacan masks are among the world's
greatest ancient art treasures, and the
acquisition of any one of them would be a
crowning achievement for any serious collection
of Pre-Columbian art.
