Some pieces, from different times and regions, test our definitions of styles and challenge the homogeneity of any group of objects that we wish to bring together under one category. This is one of the reasons that in several cases the term "tradition" is used, because it is a little wider and contemplates the presence of a number of stylistic variants that, nevertheless, share some fundamental principles.
The great majority of the pieces of the Mezcala tradition are consistent in a series of traits: they are works of small size lapidary, although not miniatures, measuring a hand span in height or, on occasion, two hand spans. There is an absolute predominance of the human figure, especially masculine, and a group of complementary objects: animals, temples, masks, scepters.
Figures 993 and 994 are frontal images, without appreciable costumes, symmetrical, schematic: both appear to be seated. This piece in particular seems to be a woman; both have arms attached to the body and forearms flexed toward the abdomen. All these features would coincide in general with the Mezcala representations that we know.
But there are also some unusual and striking features: the most noticeable is the use of several horizontal stripes that are too pronounced and produce the effect of a rectangular mask. A similar procedure is applied to the hands which gives them the appearance of somewhat rigid claws. This feature is emphatic and peculiar enough to suggest a sub-style, perhaps typical of a locality or group of artists to which both pieces would belong.
On the other hand, the treatment of the feet and the solution of the head block, are similar to the so-called Mixtec "penates". It is true that the similarity with the penates can be considered as an idea applicable to the whole Mezcala anthropomorphic repertoire, but the relation is significantly stronger in this case. The proximity between the Balsas basin and the Mixteca basin is a factor that should be considered as a possible cause for some similarities due to old exchanges.
Both pieces must have belonged to a burial complex and, like others of its kind, must have been representations of the deceased, or of their ancestors, which is the same as that of the penates.
Some pieces, from different times and regions, test our definitions of styles and challenge the homogeneity of any group of objects that we wish to bring together under one category. This is one of the reasons that in several cases the term "tradition" is used, because it is a little wider and contemplates the presence of a number of stylistic variants that, nevertheless, share some fundamental principles.
