Clay mask depicting the face of a feline, possibly a jaguar. It has openwork eyes, an oval nose, and a slightly open snout revealing the front teeth and four curved fangs that protrude and interlock at the corners of the mouth.

The surface is covered with remnants of stucco and Maya blue. It has six holes for holding and tying the mask: two in each ear and two on the top of the head.

The piece is fragmented and reattached with an unsuitable adhesive, resulting in a thick crack running from the forehead across the left eyebrow and eye.

*Neutron activation analysis of the clay paste indicates that the mask was manufactured in the upper Chixoy region (but not in the Salinas de los Nueve Cerros or Chamá areas).

Height: 16.7 cm
Width: 19.3 cm

* A very similar mask is in the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of Guatemala, probably made from the same mold (“A Precolumbian Portfolio,” Photograph [K5741] by Justin Kerr. Date: 2001-02-03).

http://research.mayavase.com/portfolio_hires.php?search=jaguar%20mask&date_added=&image=5741&display=8&rowstart=0

* Maya Survey Project

1. Financiera de Occidente (November 2011 – August 2012)

2. “THE POWER OF THE JAGUAR IN THE MAYA UNIVERSE.” Design Center, Guatemala (January 30 – February 28, 2013)

3. “TREASURES OF THE MAYAN SPIRIT.” LA Art & Antique Show. LA Convention Center, California (January 4-9, 2014)

4. “TREASURES OF THE MAYAN SPIRIT Interbanco Art Gallery, Quetzaltenango (September 8 – November 10, 2014)

5. “TREASURES OF THE MAYAN SPIRIT THROUGH TIME.” ARTECENTRO Graciela Andrade de Paiz, Historic District, Guatemala City (May 21 – October 19, 2015)

6. “PRE-COLUMBIAN BIODIVERSITY, THE MYSTERIES OF THE JUNGLE.” Spanish Cooperation Training Center, Antigua Guatemala (August 17, 2017 – February 25, 2018)

7. “MAYA: THE GREAT JAGUAR RISES” (2nd Tour) Kansas City Union Station (August 2022 – March 2023) and California Science Center (April – September 2023)