Searching for Beauty in the Faces and Teeth of Human History

The features that define why somebody is beautiful have always been difficult to pinpoint. The smile of the Mona Lisa, for instance, follows advanced aesthetic principles in composition, design and artistry, and is rightly considered a masterpiece. But at the same time, it's also the most mysterious of all smiles in Western art.

The evolution of aesthetics throughout history, and more specifically of the teeth that shape and frame the face like a canvas, is the focus of a new book entitled "Faces and Teeth, Dental Decorations in Ancient Times", which traces its many changes in civilizations from the Egyptians to the Maya, and provides a discussion on the contemporary concept of beauty as well.

 

Three languages and 400 images

The book, a trilingual edition with all texts in German, English and Spanish, took six years to complete and is nicely illustrated with about 400 images. It's the work of Holger Goetzendorff and Oliver Goetzendorff, who provide a bounty of new knowledge, information and original photographs in well researched, thought-provoking chapters. In addition, it offers interesting details from History, like that the painter Frida Kahlo paid her dentist with art works, shown in the book's pages, or that an Egyptian mummy in the British Museum wore false teeth in her better times on this earth.

The book provides also an original take on the history of the Maya civilization. Chapters dedicated to the deciphering of the Maya hieroglyph writing, their art works, symbols and mythology are complemented by an insightful essay by an expert of a prestigious archeological museum.

Camilo A. Luin, curator at the Popol Vuh Museum in Guatemala, explains the cycle of life and death, and the importance of the harvest of corn in Maya culture, which was the essential food for this advanced civilization. The original story, depicted in a Maya vase, recounts the death and rebirth of the God of Maize. Luin describes in plain language this complex myth, narrated in three different scenes in the ritual vase, which show the journey of the God of Maize to the underworld in a wooden canoe, escorted by two supernatural rowing gods with animal features, until he is reborn from the jaws of an aquatic serpent to provide food for the Maya.

 

Another welcome surprise in the book are the images of a mysterious Maya tooth of unknown origin, with a jade inlay, a rare piece that combines medicine an artistry and has preserved its dental filling for 1200 years, showing the advanced dentistry level of this pre-Columbian civilization.

 

 

 

Author Holger Goetzendorff, who is a Pharmaceutical Historian, explores in a chapter the uses of Medicinal Herbs in the New World, and through his detailed analysis changes our knowledge of the symbol that represents Mexican dentists, which is based on a mural near Teotihuacán, the ancient city of pyramids dedicated to the Sun and the Moon just outside Mexico City.

 

Vikings' Teeth

The aesthetic of the masks of African, Indonesian and Pacific Island peoples are shown and explained, as well as the ritual filing of teeth by the Vikings, showing the scope of the research done by the authors, who offer the most extensive study on the subject of faces and teeth throughout history in a diverse range of civilizations.

 

In fact, the book provides the first bibliography of the works of Mexican dentist Jorge Fastlicht, the son of Samuel Fastlicht (1902-1983). Jorge founded the Sala de la Odontología Mexicana, the first museum dedicated to dentistry in Mexico, and writes the Preface of "Faces and Teeth, Dental Decorations in Ancient Times". The Elder Fastlicht, who was a personal friend as well as Frida Kahlo's dentist, commissioned paintings from her such as "Still Life" (1952). Their close relation can be perceived from a 1948 letter, where Frida apologizes to Dr. Fastlicht for the delay in completing a "Self-Portrait", due to the pain she is suffering, explaining that the painting shows "the exact expression of my emotions…”.

 

 

 

Aesthetics as form of meaning

Then the past catches up rapidly to the present through Brazilian dental master Sidney Kina. In an insightful and provocative essay, Dr. Kina questions if our contemporary aesthetic concepts have any real meaning. In a well-crafted compelling narrative, he discusses from the 18th century philosopher Alexander Baumgarten's idea of aesthetics as a form of knowledge perceived through the senses, to the strange fashion of having teeth painted black, which was a symbol of beauty and social status for the ancient Japanese aristocracy.

Beauty or ugly, good or bad, these are concepts in the eye of the beholder, writes Kina, who concludes his essay by saying that "we are as beautiful as our beliefs and convictions", and that respecting different aesthetics, sensations, and personal images of others is the essence of democracy.

One of the most surprising chapters in this book full of original ideas and images is the one dedicated to the monumental sculptures of a lost civilization in the jungles of Colombia thousands of years ago. Author Oliver Goetzendorff explores the archaeological site of the San Agustín civilization to find meaning in the mouths and teeth depicted in the imposing statues. These are teeth that refer to the mythological power of jaguars, alligators, monkeys and snakes, which look at us from a remote, mysterious past.

This book is an original work that provides a unique perspective on the aesthetic patterns, decorations and mutilations in the face and teeth of communities, tribes and civilizations throughout human history. We recently talked to its authors, which will be introducing the book at the International Dental Show 2025, in Cologne, and at the Leipzig Book Fair, both in Germany.

 

From Exhibiton to Book

Where does the idea for your book come from?

The idea came from a 2017 exhibition at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City called "Mayas, the Language of Beauty. Diverse Perspectives" ("Mayas, el lenguaje de la belleza. Miradas cruzadas"). The exhibition provided an insight into the art and aesthetics of the Maya civilization.

 

How was the research for the book and how long it took?

The starting point for our book was the dental work of various peoples, particularly the Maya in Central America. Findings from field work, research conducted at museums, visits to archeological sites and bibliographic sources reviewed form the basis for this book. Numerous new findings were incorporated during the six years it took to write the book.

 

Were you surprised that so many ancient civilizations practiced dental aesthetics?

Phoenicians and Etruscans received dental treatment. Tooth embellishments can be found in many ancient cultures before the Maya, preserved because teeth last for thousands of years.

 

What can you tell me about the dental practices of the Egyptians?

The Egyptians cleaned teeth and treated them with anti-inflammatory tinctures (see the Papyrus Ebers). There is no evidence for drilling of teeth or dentures.

 

What about the claim in the book that an Egyptian mummy wore false teeth?

For the first time, this book presents the hypothesis that in a mummy in the British Museum there is evidence of a dental prosthesis. A reconstruction of its jaw on a model illustrates this hypothesis.

 

Maya Dentistry

A large part of the book focuses on dental procedures of the Maya. Why?

In contrast to other cultures, the Maya used semi-precious stones and other materials in the anterior teeth of people of a higher status. According to the latest research, the long endurance of these inlays is due to the antimicrobial substances in the dental cement they used.

 

What's the importance of the 1200-year-old Maya molar with a jade inlay you talk about?

This is a single specimen, and further research is required to prove its presumed age. It is not clear why an invisible at first sight rear molar was fitted with a gemstone.

 

What can you tell me about the work of Mexican dentistry pioneer Samuel Fastlicht?

Samuel Fastlicht was the first to systematically study Maya teeth, and he published numerous books on the subject. One of his books features on the cover an image that became the symbol of Mexican dentists, which comes from the Tepantitla murals. His son Jorge founded the Sala de la Odontología Mexicana (Dr. Samuel Fastlicht Museum) in Mexico City, dedicated to pre-Columbian dentistry.

 

Fastlicht and Frida Kahlo

What Frida Kahlo had to do with dentist Samuel Fastlicht?

Frida Kahlo paid with pictures painted by herself for dental treatments by Samuel Fastlicht. And she added Fastlicht's name to these paintings, which is very unusual.

 

 

Why did you include a chapter on the concept of dental aesthetics by Brazilian dentist Sidney Kina?

Sidney Kina is an important representative of contemporary dental aesthetics who combines technical and philosophical aspects in his work.

 

What these procedures of beautifying teeth, dentures, and dental decorations tell us?

Teeth shape people's facial expressions, which is why tooth embellishments have always been important, and in most cultures very common procedures.

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Editorial Note: The book "Faces and Teeth, Dental Decorations in Ancient Times" will be presented by its authors on March 25-28 at IDS 2025 in Cologne, and at Leipzig Book Fair (Leipziger Buchmesse), March 27-30. For information, please contact holger@goetzendorff.de. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

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