“Newly Discovered Masterpieces: Ancient Maya Figurine Molds” with Mark Van Stone

“My Maya molds project began as a simple descriptive catalog but expanded into a 440-page investigation into the surprising role figurines played in Maya society. From the beginning, I have been charmed by their deeply democratic aspect: The vast majority of Maya art we admire – jade, stelae, inscriptions, painted vases, books, mantles, palaces – was exclusively the province of elites. But mass-produced figurines were enjoyed by the hoi polloi, the proletariat. Their humanity touches us, and connects more directly than most of other Mesoamerican artforms (which often are an acquired taste!).

This was a different presentation than Mark’s Institute of Maya Studies program in September, 2022. He switched it up and showing other chapters from his book Maya Mold Made.

Mark Van Stone is a lifelong autodidact, netsuke carver in Japan, clay-animator, Guggenheim Fellow, with a Ph.D. in Maya Hieroglyphs (UT-Austin). A gamma-ray astronomy tech with a BA in Physics, then a calligrapher, carver, and paleographer, Mark is now professor of Art History. Mark’s most recent book, Maya Mold Made (with co-author Paul Johnson), is a catalog of Ancient Maya ceramic molds and an investigation into the function of Maya figurines. Get it on Amazon Books !

This event was hosted by Jim Reed. Please subscribe to our Aztlander YouTube channel.

[JMYaden]

This is a brilliant application of technology, well done Dr. Stone! I very much appreciate your desire to shift the viewers eye away from the fabrications of elite life and onto those of the common people. Whatever we can learn about a culture from its most privileged individuals may be comparatively small when considered next to what can be learned by studying the lives and crafts of their constituents. Also, I am happy to admit that had to watch this presentation TWICE before I realized that almost everything I was seeing was a digitally inverted image. Bravo, Dr. Johnson!

[emmanueluh]

Great presentation, thank you for sharing.