Guerrero Stone Crescent Disk with Monkey, ca. 400 - 100 BCE

A rare and finely carved crescent-shaped votive plaque from Guerrero, depicting a stylized monkey standing upright along the outer curve. The figure is shown in profile, with both paws resting on its hips and a long, curling tail that rises to touch the back of its head. Subtle incised geometric lines emphasize the body contours and facial features. The opposite face is smoothly finished, showing the fine workmanship of early Mezcala sculptors. The surface bears an attractive ancient patina with mineral encrustations, revealing age and authenticity. 

Monkeys in Guerrero imagery are associated with sexual vitality, fertility, and renewal, a theme reinforced by their recurring appearance in ritual contexts. Crescent-shaped objects, such as this example, may have further echoed lunar or cyclical symbolism, linking the monkey’s creative energy to the rhythms of life, growth, and reproduction.

Medium: Basalt

Dimensions: Length: 4 ½ in (11.4 cm) | Width: 3 in (7.6 cm)

Condition: Professionally repaired from approximately six original fragments. One side displays stabilized surface crazing, a one-inch restored edge chip at the tail’s center, and two small restored surface flakes along the lower tail. Overall stable and visually cohesive.

Provenance: Samuel Dubiner Collection, Tel Aviv, Israel, acquired 1960s, then Barry Kernerman private collection, Toronto, and lastly private Florida collection.

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