*Masque représentant un visage humain.

The face has stylized features. The open mouth is signified by a large horizontal slit left untouched. The nose is straight and prominent, and its wings are in relief. The almond-shaped eyes are barely hollowed out, while the eyelids are slightly raised, intensifying the strength of the gaze. The superciliary arches are slightly marked; they join the root of the nose and merge with the high, broad forehead. The straight ears are prominent. Spotted green diorite. Good state of preservation Chontal - Guerrero - Mexico, 350 - 100 BC 10.1 x 8.3 x 4.8 cm Provenance : - Former Yvon Collet collection,1969 - Mermoz Gallery, 2014 Lot presented under the temporary importation regime The Chontal culture, dating from 350 to 100 BC, is, along with the Mezcala culture, one of the most representative artistic traditions of the state of Guerrero, in southwestern Mexico. Its stone sculptures mainly represent human heads or cult masks worn during religious ceremonies or highly stylized human figures. It is distinguished from its neighbour Mezcala by a more naturalistic style visible in the facial features and the recurrent curved lines. The Chontal civilization remains unknown and mysterious, but its stone sculptures fascinate contemporary artists and collectors by their sobriety and their search for essentiality.