Guatemalan Puma Mask – Guardian of the Ember Path

Artist: Aj Canil Family

Origin: Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Material: Hand-carved wood, natural & acrylic paints

Dimensions: Approx. 10" H x 6.5" W x 5.25" D

Weight: Approx. 1.4 lbs

📜 Final Sale – All items are unique collector artifacts. Please review descriptions and photos carefully. No returns.

Catalogue Note:

A compelling mid-century ceremonial carving attributed to the Aj Canil Family of Chichicastenango, this puma mask radiates the quiet force of a mountain guardian. Unlike the jaguar, whose presence is fierce and explosive, the puma is an elusive sentinel—patient, poised, and revered in highland myth as the protector of sacred thresholds. Rendered in a richly mottled palette of ember-red and deep obsidian black, the mask’s surface reveals both the ritual patina of use and the artisan’s intuitive mastery of form.

The eyes, rimmed in gold, evoke nocturnal vigilance, while the squared teeth and sculpted muzzle speak to grounded power rather than predatory aggression. Such masks were traditionally worn during masked dances that bridged the human and animal worlds, inviting ancestral strength to animate the dancer’s movements.

A significant ethnographic artifact, this piece balances expressive ferocity with refined control—ideal for a collector attuned to the symbolism and spiritual resonance embedded in Latin American ritual art.

Highlights:

• Singular, mid-century ceremonial carving with authentic patina

• Depicts the puma, sacred protector and silent watcher in Maya cosmology

• Created by the renowned Aj Canil family of Chichicastenango

• Museum-quality presence, suitable for curatorial or private collections