Pre-Columbian | Shadowbox Display: Skull Effigy, Masks, Figurine & Shard | Circa 300 BCE – 900 CE
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: Mesoamerica (Central Mexico or West Mexico)
Material: Terracotta, carved stone/bone, painted ceramic, and woven textile
Period: Pre-Columbian, circa 300 BCE – 900 CE
Description
This finely curated shadowbox collection brings together multiple Pre-Columbian artifacts, each reflecting a different aspect of Mesoamerican ritual and daily life. At its center rests a small carved white skull effigy in stone or bone, a potent symbol of death, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of existence in Mesoamerican belief. Flanking it are two terracotta mask fragments with hollow eyes and stylized features, once used in ceremonial or funerary contexts.
Beneath these, a green-painted pottery shard preserves traces of ancient pigment, while a terracotta figurine fragment retains the feet and legs of a larger ancestral figure. A small cylindrical piece — likely a bead or ritual implement — adds further depth. Completing the ensemble is a woven textile fragment decorated with red geometric motifs, underscoring the role of weaving as a cultural and ceremonial art form. Professionally mounted in a shadowbox frame, the grouping presents as both an archaeological cross-section and a compelling display piece.
Features
- Carved white stone/bone skull effigy, symbolizing mortality and regeneration
- Two terracotta mask fragments with stylized ceremonial features
- Figurine fragment showing feet and legs of an ancestral figure
- Painted ceramic shard retaining traces of green pigment
- Small cylindrical fragment, likely bead or ritual element
- Woven textile fragment with geometric motifs
- All mounted in a custom shadowbox for preservation and exhibition
Cultural Significance
This collection reflects the interconnected ritual and artistic traditions of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Masks were integral to ceremony and funerary rites; skull imagery conveyed powerful cosmological beliefs in death and renewal; figurines embodied fertility, lineage, and household ritual; painted ceramics enriched social and ceremonial life; and textiles carried immense symbolic and economic weight. Displayed together, the ensemble offers a rare, tangible glimpse into the material culture of one of the world’s most sophisticated ancient civilizations.
Condition
All artifacts are fragmentary with surface wear, pigment loss, and mineral accretions consistent with excavation and age. Textile fragment remains fragile but stable. Shadowbox frame in very good condition, ready for display.
Dimensions (approximate)
Height: 11.25 in
Width: 11.25 in
Depth: 4.5 in
Age
Circa 300 BCE – 900 CE
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: Mesoamerica (Central Mexico or West Mexico)
Material: Terracotta, carved stone/bone, painted ceramic, and woven textile
Period: Pre-Columbian, circa 300 BCE – 900 CE
Description
This finely curated shadowbox collection brings together multiple Pre-Columbian artifacts, each reflecting a different aspect of Mesoamerican ritual and daily life. At its center rests a small carved white skull effigy in stone or bone, a potent symbol of death, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of existence in Mesoamerican belief. Flanking it are two terracotta mask fragments with hollow eyes and stylized features, once used in ceremonial or funerary contexts.
Beneath these, a green-painted pottery shard preserves traces of ancient pigment, while a terracotta figurine fragment retains the feet and legs of a larger ancestral figure. A small cylindrical piece — likely a bead or ritual implement — adds further depth. Completing the ensemble is a woven textile fragment decorated with red geometric motifs, underscoring the role of weaving as a cultural and ceremonial art form. Professionally mounted in a shadowbox frame, the grouping presents as both an archaeological cross-section and a compelling display piece.
Features
- Carved white stone/bone skull effigy, symbolizing mortality and regeneration
- Two terracotta mask fragments with stylized ceremonial features
- Figurine fragment showing feet and legs of an ancestral figure
- Painted ceramic shard retaining traces of green pigment
- Small cylindrical fragment, likely bead or ritual element
- Woven textile fragment with geometric motifs
- All mounted in a custom shadowbox for preservation and exhibition
Cultural Significance
This collection reflects the interconnected ritual and artistic traditions of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Masks were integral to ceremony and funerary rites; skull imagery conveyed powerful cosmological beliefs in death and renewal; figurines embodied fertility, lineage, and household ritual; painted ceramics enriched social and ceremonial life; and textiles carried immense symbolic and economic weight. Displayed together, the ensemble offers a rare, tangible glimpse into the material culture of one of the world’s most sophisticated ancient civilizations.
Condition
All artifacts are fragmentary with surface wear, pigment loss, and mineral accretions consistent with excavation and age. Textile fragment remains fragile but stable. Shadowbox frame in very good condition, ready for display.
Dimensions (approximate)
Height: 11.25 in
Width: 11.25 in
Depth: 4.5 in
Age
Circa 300 BCE – 900 CE
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