315 - Ceremonial mask of a man-jaguar (were-jaguar), Olmec culture, Mexico, Middle Preclassic period (900–600 BC)

Ceremonial mask of a man-jaguar (were-jaguar), Olmec culture, Mexico, Middle Preclassic period (900–600 BC) Sculpture carved from and polished to a high gloss from green serpentine stone. Dimensions: 18 x 13.5 x 7.8 cm. Weight: 942 g. An important ceremonial mask attributed to the Olmec culture, one of the first great civilizations of Mesoamerica, whose artistic and religious development exerted a profound influence on later cultures. The piece depicts a face with anthropomorphic and feline features, associated with the mythological figure of the jaguar-man, one of the most representative motifs of Olmec iconography. It has a broad forehead, deeply carved almond-shaped eyes, a prominent, wide nose, and a characteristic open mouth with thick lips and downturned corners—elements that give the mask an expression of remarkable intensity. The ears, represented by protruding rectangular forms, have perforations, while other small lateral holes may have been used for suspension or attachment. The geometric simplification of the facial features stands out, combined with a naturalistic treatment of the forms and a careful adaptation of the carving to the characteristics of the stone. The surface retains green, ochre, and brownish tones, with natural veins and surface deposits that accentuate its archaeological character. The jaguar-man figure has been linked to Olmec religious beliefs and possible shamanic transformation rituals, in which the jaguar symbolized supernatural power and the connection between the human world and the forces of nature. Its sculptural style finds parallels with masks and votive objects from the major ceremonial centers of San Lorenzo and La Venta, particularly in the configuration of the eyes, the rendering of the mouth, and the expressiveness of the features. The use of greenstone—a material particularly valued in ancient Mesoamerica—was symbolically associated with fertility, renewal, and ritual prestige. Its possible ceremonial or funerary function is ...