Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Mask
Not on view
Two of these jade faces represent the Olmec Maize God, the preeminent Olmec deity; he can be identified by his upturned lip, easily visible on the mask with the round eyeholes. Olmec masks were not always meant to be worn on the face. One example lacks openings for the eyes and mouth, and perforations along the sides suggest its ritual use as a belt ornament, pectoral, or headdress. The deep blue color of this mask’s jade made it the most valued material for the Olmecs.
Dos de estos rostros de jade representan al Dios del Maíz, la deidad olmeca más importante, identificable por su labio respingado fácilmente visible en la máscara con huecos circulares para los ojos. Las máscaras olmecas no siempre estaban destinadas a ser llevadas sobre los rostros. En uno de los ejemplos se puede ver que faltan las aperturas para los ojos y la boca. Las perforaciones laterales sugieren una función ritual como cinturón ornamental, pectoral o tocado. El azul profundo del jade de esta máscara demuestra que, para los olmecas, éste era el material más valioso.
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