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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Costa Rican Masks : Stone Death Mask
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Stone Death Mask - PF.3427
Origin: Costa Rica
Circa: 300
BC
to 1500
AD
Dimensions:
13" (33.0cm) high
x 7.5" (19.1cm) wide
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Medium: Stone
$8,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The artist of this Pre-Colombian stone death
mask portrays a magnificent use of this mask; to
transform the ordinary to the extraordinary, and
to eternalize the man behind this mask.
This artist captures the life-force by bringing
this man closer to god through the mask
itself. The artist has created the mask for two
purposes. The first is to shield the life that
has just passed, the second is to bring new life to
the man through the beautifully carved
open eye and mouth slits.
Exuberance and energy emanate from the mask
through the sensitive depiction of line and
form. The strong outline of facial features and
geometric patterns over the ears show the
artistic power to idealize the face behind the
mask. The jaguar at the crown of the mask,
symbolizes this man's power and shows the
transformation of the prominent man behind
the mask into an eternal spirit, capable of
thinking like the powerful jaguar. The jaguar
on this mask represents two ideals about this
man and his culture. The jaguar could
represent his prominence in his own community
as a chieftain or leader, on the other hand
it may be a symbol for the entire tribe and their
worship of a powerful animal. In either
case, the mask transforms the man who has died
into a powerful leader, ready to merge
thoughts with the gods. The precision of the
carved forms leave us breathless over the
Ancient depiction and transformation of a man
towards his after life.
- (PF.3427)
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