Offered by Emmanuel Soubielle Works of Art
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Stone Mask
Chile, Mapuche culture, 1200–1700 AD
Carved stone
H. 18.5 cm
Provenance : J.-A. Cronier Collection (1956–2019), Château de Mézières-Lez-Cléry
This triangular-shaped mask depicts a stylized face with circular eyes and a smiling mouth. Its smooth, refined modeling reflects a symbolic aesthetic focused on expression and spiritual presence. This simplicity enhances the timeless and mystical dimension of the figure, which likely served as a mediator between the human world and unseen forces.
Stone masks from the Mapuche culture are very rare, and their precise function remains a subject of debate. Like most other known examples, this mask features a vertical perforation that would have allowed it to be suspended. Such representations may have been associated with ritual practices linked to ancestors, spiritual protection, or shamanic ceremonies. The Mapuche Museum in Pucón (Chile) preserves comparable examples.
