Important Olmec Serpentine Mask Were-Jaguar | CIRAM Tested
Mexico, Middle Pre-classic Period, ca. 900–400 BCE. An exceptionally rare Olmec mask of dark serpentine, this powerful work represents the apex of Pre-classic Mesoamerican lapidary achievement. At 6 inches in height, this is a substantial example — significantly larger than the miniature maskettes that dominate the market — and speaks to the ceremonial importance and elite status of the object within Olmec culture. The broad, authoritative face is rendered with masterful economy — slit eyes drilled at the corners, a wide commanding nose, and the characteristic downturned trapezoidal mouth of the were-jaguar tradition. Lateral perforation holes flank the face for ceremonial attachment, while incised ear ornaments signal the elevated status of the individual depicted. The deep, lustrous dark greenstone — a material the Olmec associated with fertility, rulership, and the divine — retains a magnificent ancient surface patina accumulated over three millennia.
Condition: Excellent
Condition notes: Masterfully repaired from 7 pieces with small loss to chin. Wonderful tactile surface from 2500+ years of gradual smoothing by mother nature.