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Onyx Marble Mask
1media/mask 4_thumb.jpg2021-03-05T16:58:19-08:00Kimberly Melgoza9a781379e949b57bd2d31e49d830a046802d55e5386224Mexico, 3rd-7th Century A.D.plain2021-04-28T15:17:14-07:003rd–7th century CEMexico, MesoamericaOnyx marble (tecalli)H. 7 1/2 x W. 6 1/2 x D. 3 3/8 in. (19.1 x 16.5 x 8.6 cm)[Frances Pratt, Teochita Inc., New York, until 1967]; The Museum of Primitive Art, New York, 1967–1978Kimberly Melgoza9a781379e949b57bd2d31e49d830a046802d55e5
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1media/mask 4.jpg2021-03-05T15:22:07-08:00Onyx Marble Mask12plain2021-04-27T23:27:59-07:00 In Teotihuacan, during the 3rd and 7th century CE, masks depicted ideal human faces with geometric brows, triangle noses, oval mouth, and oval eyes. As seen in this specific mask, the eyes and mouth are indented which could potentially be a space for shells or other stones. This mask was made by onyx marble, which is pretty heavy and thus was probably not a wearable mask (no holes for eyes/mouth either). (1) Most masks in Teotihuacan were made from heavy stones that typically weighed around 3-6 kilograms, meaning they could not be worn. It did have holes on the sides which could mean it could have been attached to other sculptures of deities, or even buried. (2) 1. Metmuseum.org. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310647.
2. Rose, Timothy R., and Jane Maclaren Walsh. "The Stone Faces of Teotihuacan: Insights into Their Use, Manufacture and Sources." Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 22 (2018): 299-312. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.06.057.
