April 2nd - May 7th, 2005

Cambridge, MA, March 10, 2005 Hurst Gallery is pleased to announce a new exhibition, Pre-Hispanic Masterpieces, opening on Saturday, April 2, and on display until May 7. The objects include pottery and sculpture from a wide variety of ancient cultures in what is now Mexico and a few objects from Central and South America, notably Peru. All works come from vintage collections in the United States, and collection histories are noted with each object.

The most spectacular object in the exhibition is a green diorite yoke from Veracruz (450 - 650 AD). It is a beautifully polished "u"-shaped object carved to depict the stylized face of a frog, representing the earth monster Tlatecuhtli. Yokes of this size (H: 6 inches, W: 15 inches) and form were ceremonial objects associated with a widely popular ball game played in Mexico and Central America during precontact periods, especially during the first millenium AD. A second yoke of light-colored marble is strikingly beautiful as an object of pure form, absent any surface elaboration.

Additionally, the exhibit includes two hachas, or ceremonial trophy axes, which were also associated with the ball game. One depicts the head of a deity, fully rendered in three dimensions. The other, also the head of a deity, is carved in relief and thinner in form, one profile smiling, the other scowling. This dual representation is very rare on a hacha or any object type of pre-contact art from Veracruz.

Two fine, large ceramic sculptures depict couples from the Nayarit culture of West Mexico (100 BC - 250 AD). One is joined as a single sculpture, the other as two separate figures; the male holds an ax, the woman holds a bowl. These sculptures were originally painted in polychrome pigments and still retain considerable quantities of this dramatic coloration.

Several group sculptures depict multiple participants in ceremonial activities, also from Nayarit and from neighboring Colima, and four very elaborate sculptures of individuals wearing ceremonial regalia, or carrying armaments and weapons for combat.

Although this exhibition and sale has a limited number of objects, the overall quality is extremely high. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to view representations of daily life and ordinary people; depictions of rulers, warriors and other high status individuals; as well as actual ceremonial objects.

Please contact the gallery if you would like additional images.