Pre-Columbian Maya stone dwarf figure with turban-like headdress, ca. 600–900 CE, Guatemala. Finely carved in dense volcanic stone, the figure is depicted seated with knees drawn upward and arms wrapped around the body in a compact, contemplative pose. The facial features are sensitively rendered with heavy-lidded eyes, broad nose, and pronounced lips, while the large ears and wrapped turban-style headdress are characteristic of Maya sculptural traditions from the Southern Highlands and Alta Verapaz region.

Figures depicting dwarfs or hunchbacked individuals held important symbolic and ceremonial roles within Maya society, often associated with courtly life, ritual knowledge, and supernatural symbolism. The sculpture possesses an attractive surface with ancient weathering and mineral deposits throughout, emphasizing its age and long burial.

An expressive and highly sculptural example of Maya stone carving with strong visual presence from all angles.

Provenance: Ex Public Sale, New York; from the estate of a prominent architect, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.