Face plaque

This small solid face plaque displays features characteristic of Olmec imagery, such as the broad nose and down-turned mouth. The smooth patina and rather worn details suggest that the piece has been much handled. There are losses on the lower left cheek and on both ears. Two holes at the upper back of the piece were probably for suspension or attachment. Miniature ‘masks’ in fine stones may have been worn as elite regalia, as seen on numerous monuments. They may also have been an important component of burials. At Tikal, a small jade face plaque may have taken the place of the skull in the burial of a Preclassic ruler (W. Coe and McGinn, 1963:29, 31).

Gay and Pratt (1992) state that the Olmec lapidary tradition may have begun in Guerrero state, where small-scale Olmec stone sculpture has been found, in addition to Proto-Teotihuacan and classic Teotihuacan objects. It is not possible to say whether this plaque comes from Guerrero or Vercruz.

Joanne Pillsbury and Ted. J. J. Leyenaar, in Steven Hooper (ed.). 1997. Catalogue to the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection. University of East Anglia.)