Olmec Serpentine Figure of a Ballplayer
Mesoamerican
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Works
The Olmec Serpentine Figure of a Ballplayer is an ancient Pre-Columbian artifact created by Olmec artisans, likely dating to approximately 900, 400 BCE during the height of Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica. Carved from serpentine stone, the figure depicts a participant in the Mesoamerican ballgame, a ritualistic and ceremonial sport of profound religious and political significance. Such objects have appeared in major auction house sales and museum collections, representing some of the finest examples of early Mesoamerican sculptural craft.
Ancient MesoamericaSculpture1500-400 BCEMesoamericanSerpentine carvingSports and athleticsJade and stone workOlmecBall game cultureCeremonial and ritualistic
Artists in conversation