mosaic;
figure;
vessel(?)
- Museum number
- Am,+.165
- Title
- Series: The Turquoise Mosaics
- Description
-
Seated animal, with open mouth mouth and protruding tongue (possibly representing a jaguar), bearing a shallow cup on its back. Carved in cedro wood (Cedrela odorata) and covered with mosaic made from turquoise, malachite, pyrite, and mother-of-pearl (Pinctada mazatlanica) shell. Pine resin adhesive.
- Production date
- 1400-1521
- Dimensions
-
Height: 17 centimetres
-
Width: 9 centimetres
-
Depth: 14.60 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Although the identity of this seated animal is not certain it has always been interpreted as representing a jaguar. Along with the eagle, the jaguar and symbolized power and courage and was associated with the elite warriors of Aztec society. Both elements evoked death and as such were applied to stone vessels (cuauhxicalli) that were used to receive offerings of hearts and blood for the sun.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1987-1994, London, Museum of Mankind (Room 1), 'Turquoise Mosaics from Mexico'
- Acquisition date
- 1877
- Acquisition notes
- For further acquisition details, see King et al. 2012. pp.194-195
This seated animal (possibly a jaguar) supporting a cup was bought by the BM curator and benefactor A W Franks (1826-97) q.v. from Joseph Mayer of Liverpool (1803-86) q.v. for £20 and, as noted on the Christy Collection Registration slip (BM, AOA), it was presented to the BM by Franks in March 1877. Unfortunately Mayer gave no provenance for this piece (Read, 1895: 398) and his papers are now scattered. Although Mayer acquired complete collections, he also travelled and made an uncounted multitude of lesser purchases, here and there in London and on the Continent (Gibson, 1988: 12).
See M Caygill, ‘Henry Christy, A W Franks and the British Museum’s turquoise mosaics’ in King et al (eds) Turquoise in Mexico and North America: Science, Conservation, Culture and Collections (2012)
Read, H. (1895). “On an ancient Mexican Head-piece, coated with Mosaic,” Archaeologia LIV, II: 383-98.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am,+.165
- Additional IDs
-
CDMS number: Am1877C2.165 (old CDMS no.)
