Skip to content

Free shipping in Mexico on orders over $5,000 MXN

D'Argenta
Silver pre-Hispanic sculpture among tropical plants

Pre-Hispanic Art

Statues of the Aztec Empire

From the Olmec heads of the Gulf Coast to the Maya of Palenque and the Mexica of Tenochtitlan: prehispanic art reinterpreted in sculpture and relief, finished by hand in silver, with some pieces in 24-karat gold or copper.

Pieces from $3,220 to $505,800 MXN

The oldest faces: Olmec and Maya

The Olmecs of the Gulf Coast were among the earliest of Mesoamerica's great civilisations, and their colossal stone heads still set the image of pre-hispanic sculpture. The Silver Olmeca Head Statue keeps the close, helmet-like headdress, the heavy brows and the full lips in mirror silver, and the same head is also finished in 24-karat gold.

K'inich Janaab' Pakal ruled the Maya city of Palenque in the 7th century, and his carved sarcophagus lid, still in the Temple of the Inscriptions, is one of the great works of Mayan sculpture. King Pakal the Great Sarcophagus falling to Xibalba renders it as a tall panel crowded with glyphs around the reclining ruler, the silver raised against dark recesses.

Relief, palms and urns

Much of this collection is relief: polished raised figures against darker grounds, so that the carving reads like stone when light crosses it. The Silver Coyolxauhqui Relief is a round disc filled with the dismembered goddess. The original stone was found in 1978 in the centre of Mexico City, and its discovery led to the excavation of the Templo Mayor.

On the Gulf Coast, Classic Veracruz linked carved stone palms and axes to the ballgame. The Silver Ceremonial Palm is tall, narrow and densely carved, and a ceremonial axe turns a thin profile head into openwork on a black base. From the Huastec world of San Luis Potosí comes the Silver Dhipak Statue Tamuín Adolescent, slender and upright on a black base; from Oaxaca, the Zapotecan Urn, a seated figure under a towering headdress.

Living with ancient forms

The Silver Chac Mool Statue reclines on a dark stone base with his head turned toward the viewer, in the pose of the Chac Mool figures of Chichén Itzá and Tula, which hold a dish on the stomach. It is a low, horizontal piece for a coffee table or a long shelf, while the heads, raised on their bases, belong at eye level.

The Haab Mayan Calendar Sculpture in Silver frames a central figure with a ring of glyphs; the Haab was the Maya 365-day calendar of 18 months of 20 days, plus 5. These are contemporary interpretations and replicas, designed and finished by hand in our Mexico City workshop. Our Aztec art, Mayan art and Aztec calendar décor pages take each thread further, and our copper sculptures bring a warmer palette.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between prehispanic art and pre-Columbian art?

Pre-Columbian refers to the Americas before Columbus arrived in 1492; prehispanic, the term used in Mexico, refers to the cultures that flourished before the Spanish arrival in the 16th century. Mesoamerican art names the region and its peoples: Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Toltec and Mexica among them.

Which piece is a good first step into the collection?

The Olmec head and the Chac Mool are the most recognisable forms of ancient Mexico and hold a room on their own. For a bookshelf or a niche, a round relief such as Coyolxauhqui or the Haab calendar reads like a carved stone medallion. An art advisor can show you any piece on a video call.

How are the reliefs looked after?

Every piece is protected by a resistant lacquer, so a soft, dry cloth passed over the raised surfaces is enough; metal polish and cleaning agents are best avoided. Each one carries our lifetime guarantee covering manufacturing defects, and we ship throughout Mexico from Mexico City.