Architectural Model
Unknown Artist
1st–8th century
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
H. 2 5/16 × W. 1 1/4 in. (5.9 × 3.2 cm)
Classification
Stone-Sculpture
Culture
Mezcala
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993
Accession Number
1994.35.699
Tags
Art Historical Context
This petite stone architectural model, crafted by an unknown Mezcala artist between the 1st and 8th centuries, offers a rare glimpse into the sacred architecture of ancient Mesoamerica. Hailing from the Guerrero region of Mexico, the Mezcala culture— of the broader pre-Columbian world—produced these miniature sculptures as ritual objects, likely representing temples or ceremonial structures. At just 2 5/16 inches high and 1 1/4 inches wide, its compact form belies its cultural weight, evoking the stepped pyramids and enclosures central to Mesoamerican spirituality. Carved from hard stone with...