As I often say in the shop, anything with a skull sells. We have skull pillows, scarves, necklaces, you name it, and they all fly out the door. As we get ready to enter into October and ultimately El Dia de los Muertos, which is a big thing out here in New Mexico, we are going to feature some cool skull items from the shop.

Carved Stone Skulls - 6 x 4 x 4 H inches - $115 In Store

Today we are starting off with these vintage carved stone skulls from South America. Similar carved skulls have been found in many ancient cultures including Tibet, Mongolia, and Meso-America. Little is known about these ancient peoples and their interaction with the skulls. Why did they create them? What were they used for? What significance did they hold for these people spiritually and or culturally?

Human skulls and skull imagery were prominent in Aztec art in Mexico when the Spanish first arrived. Stone skulls were also carved by the Mixtec and the Mayans, and a human skull covered with turquoise and lignite mosaic from ancient Mexico is displayed at The British Museum.

They were carved in relief in basalt or limestone as architectural elements, occasionally were covered with stucco, and were originally probably all painted. They were usually attached to walls or altars, or depicted in bas reliefs of deities as ornaments worn on belts.

Our carved skulls come from this same tradition and were probably made in Brazil during the last few decades of the 20th Century. Stop by the shop to see them today or give us a call at 1-866-804-1909 to learn more about them.

Posted By: AJ (aj@pfeiferstudio.com)

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