Finger Grip
Unknown Artist
before 16th century
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
Height 2 in.
Classification
Stone-Implements
Culture
Mexican
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
1994.35.567
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas,Finger Grip* is a yet evocative stone artifact from pre-16th-century Mexico. Standing just 2 inches tall, this carefully carved implement exemplifies the ingenuity of ancient Mesoamerican craftsmanship. Its compact form, designed for a secure finger hold, suggests it served a practical purpose—perhaps as a handle for tools, weaving aids, or even ceremonial objects in daily or ritual life. Created by an unknown artist before European contact, the piece reflects the sophisticated stoneworking techniques of pre-Colu...