Mask; Teotihuacán, Mexico, circa 200–700 A.D.

Mask; Teotihuacán, Mexico, circa 200–700 AD.
Stone.
Provenance: private collection in the United States.
Measurements: 15 cm (height) x 14 cm (width). 20 cm high with base.
A stone-carved mask depicting a hieratic and solemn face, with a large, flat, triangular nose—originally adorned with a nose ring (now lost, though the attachment holes remain)—a slightly parted mouth, and double-rimmed eyes.
The city of Teotihuacán, in central Mexico, flourished between 100 B.C. and 600 A.D. Located in a privileged geographical position, it was for a long period the most important city in Mesoamerica. It extended its influence northward, toward the coast, and into the territory of Oaxaca, reaching as far as the Maya region. Around the year 550, the city center suffered a major fire, which likely coincided with the beginning of its decline.
Teotihuacán means “city where the gods dwell,” which is why all kinds of notable people—those of sufficient standing to become “teutl,” or deified heroes—began to be buried within its boundaries. For this to happen, it was necessary to bury the deceased with a mask, which they would wear on their journey to the afterlife, since the gods never reveal their faces. That is why the great lords buried in Teotihuacán always appear with their faces covered by a mask, which does not depict their features but rather those of their people, revealing the physical and spiritual portrait of a lineage.