Mask
200 BCE–300 CE
Medium
Serpentine
Dimensions
H.: 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148338
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Olmec mask, carved from smooth serpentine stone, dates to the Late Formative period (200 BCE–300 CE) stands just 7.9 cm tall, making it a remarkably intimate artifact from one of Mesoamerica's earliest civilizations. Olmecs, often called the "mother culture" of Mexico and Central America, flourished along the Gulf Coast from around 1200 BCE, pioneering monumental stone sculptures and intricate jade-like carvings. Serpentine, with its rich green hue and waxy polish, was prized for evoking jade's sacred qualities, symbolizing vitality and otherworldly power. Olmec masks like this...