#mesoamericanart
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arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#Armadillo Mortar
Aztec culture, Central Mexico, Postclassic, ca. 14th to early 16th c.
Stone, red pigment
3.8" L x 7" W x 5.5" H (35.1 x 17.8 x 14 cm)
www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2238825...
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
“An Aztec stone mortar carved in the form of an armadillo transforms a utilitarian vessel into a sculptural meditation on earth, protection, and ritual practice. The animal is rendered with a low, rounded body and carefully incised bands that evoke the segmented armor of the armadillo, while the head projects forward with quiet alertness. At the center of the back, a deep circular cavity forms the grinding bowl, seamlessly integrated into the creature's body. The armadillo was closely associated with the earth and the underworld in Mesoamerican thought, admired for its burrowing behavior and natural armor. Its ability to move between surface and subterranean realms linked it symbolically to fertility, regeneration, and hidden forces beneath the soil. These qualities made the animal an apt form for ritual and domestic implements connected to preparation, transformation, and offerings. The interior of the mortar retains traces of red pigment, possibly cinnabar, a mercury-based mineral widely used in Mesoamerica for ritual, symbolic, and funerary purposes. Cinnabar was associated with blood, life force, and sacred renewal, and its presence here suggests the mortar may have been used for preparing pigments, medicines, or ritual substances rather than ordinary foodstuffs. Carved from dense stone and elevated on short feet, the vessel balances stability with sculptural presence. It embodies the Aztec tendency to animate functional objects with cosmological meaning, blurring the line between tool and effigy. Both grounded and expressive, this armadillo mortar is a compelling example of how daily practice, ritual knowledge, and animal symbolism converged in Aztec material culture.”
January 31, 2026 at 7:29 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#TextileTuesday:
Cloth (Manta), 1970s (collected 1978)
Otomí culture, Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo, Mexico
Factory-made calico/cotton, embroidered in satin stitch (Tenago embroidery)
L 98 x W 173 cm
British Museum Am1978,15.154
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
"Cloth; made of factory-made calico/cotton; rectangle of off-white cloth (manta in Spanish) embroidered in satin stitch with multicoloured cotton thread; motifs include sun at centre, turkey above peacock at right, butterfly and two animals at left, fish above sun, flower to right, animal with plant in mouth below." "Smaller cloths were initially used locally as servilletas, but in recent years larger ones have been made for sale. See Sayer, Chloë. Mexican Costume. London: British Museum Press, 1985 p. 159. Objects collected during the 1970s by Chloë Sayer and Marcos Ortiz. They were exhibited in 1977-1978 at the Horniman Museum, and later acquired by the British Museum."
January 27, 2026 at 11:52 PM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
Where are my #CrabTime & #Crustmas fans at - look at this little guy 😂
Land #Crab Effigy Vessel
Colima culture, E. Mexico, Proto-Classical, 100 BCE - 250 CE
Redware ceramic w/ brick red slip, black oxides
H17 x W18 x D20.5 cm
www.giquelloetassocies.fr/en/lot/10121...
#MesoAmericanArt #IndigenousArt
official auction photo of the crab effigy vessel, redware ceramic, globular body standing on 8 legs with two claws and incised face details, single spout on top closeup of the adorably serious face and raised claws resembling the “what do you want” Italian hand gesture - expecting lots of “Italian crab” jokes as a result LOL
December 30, 2025 at 4:38 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#Rabbit Effigy Vessel
Mexico, Southern Veracruz, Classic Veracruz Culture, 600-900 CE
Ceramic, H 15.4 x L 15.7 x W 8.2 cm
On display at Penn Museum 68-30-1
#MesoamericanArt #IndigenousArt
photo of the rabbit effigy vessel with label on display at museum - unpainted tan pottery with chipped spout
September 5, 2024 at 3:03 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#RattlesnakeAppreciationDay :
Knotted #Rattlesnake
Aztec, Postclassic 1100-1520 CE
Basalt, H 11 1/4 x W 16 in. (28.5 x 40.64 cm)
Walters Art Museum 29.2 art.thewalters.org/object/29.2/
See ALTs for more info
#IndigenousArt #MesoAmericanArt
official museum photo of the object on gradient grey background, front profile view showing head “Compact and smoothly polished, this rattlesnake displays typical Aztec sculptural techniques. Both the musculature of this snake's body and its head have been sculpted in great detail. The eyes were probably once inlaid, and ferocious fangs descend from the snake's upper jaw. Snakes were powerful symbols throughout Mesoamerican history, linked with the sky, rain, and agriculture. Aztecs may have seen the snake's shedding of its skin as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.” official museum photo of the object on gradient grey background, back profile view showing tail “Compact and smoothly polished, this rattlesnake displays typical Aztec sculptural techniques. Both the musculature of this snake's body and its head have been sculpted in great detail. The eyes were probably once inlaid, and ferocious fangs descend from the snake's upper jaw. Snakes were powerful symbols throughout Mesoamerican history, linked with the sky, rain, and agriculture. Aztecs may have seen the snake's shedding of its skin as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.”
January 29, 2025 at 3:49 AM
kaushik2072.bsky.social
Daily sketch — Aztec eagle from my sketchbook.

#Sketchbook #DailySketch #AztecEagle #BallpointDrawing #AztecArt #SketchbookArt #PenAndInk #MesoamericanArt #DrawingDaily #ArtSketchbook #EagleWarrior #AncientArt
August 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#MetalMonday:
#Rabbit Mask
Guerrero Nahua (Mexico)
1940-1960
Copper, cotton cloth, paint
26.5 x 18.2 cm
Smithsonian NMAI 24/5904
#MesoamericanArt #IndigenousArt
copper maskette of a rabbit head with wirework features and yellow and red paint, on blue background, photographed on display at museum
March 5, 2024 at 7:25 AM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Incredibly modern but made by an Aztec artisan over 600 years ago!

#aztec #carved #obsidian #art #artwork #tribalart #archeology #aztecart #mesoamericanart #mexico #ancientmexico #precolumbian #prehispanic #aztecskull #rebirth #cyclical #lifeanddeath #diadelosmuertos #remembrance
For the Aztecs, skulls held profound spiritual significance, symbolizing death, rebirth, and the continuation of life. They were used in rituals to honor the dead, displayed as trophies, and believed to represent the "seeds" that ensured humanity's continued existence. Skulls were also incorporated into art and architecture, reflecting the Aztecs' complex beliefs about the afterlife and the cyclical nature of life and death. Aztecs believed in a cyclical view of life and death, where death was not an end but a transition to another realm. Skulls, as reminders of mortality, were seen as a gateway to the afterlife and the renewal of life. The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), which has roots in ancient Aztec rituals, continues to use skulls as a symbol of honoring the deceased and their return.
April 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
srbigbear.bsky.social
Coyolxauhqui

#ArteDigital #Ilustración #DibujoHechoAMano #ArteHistórico #Coyolxauhqui #MexicaGoddess #AztecMythology #PrehispanicArt #MexicanCulture #AncientMexico #MoonGoddess #AztecHistory #MesoamericanArt #TempleMayor #AztecLegend #Coyolxauhqui #DiosaMexica #MitologíaMexica
February 4, 2025 at 4:43 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday :
#Coyote Head
Toltec, Early Post-Classic (900-1250 CE)
Offering of the El Corral Shrine, Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico
Ceramic vessel with shell mosaic and bone, H 13 x W 9.6 cm
INAH: lugares.inah.gob.mx/en/zonas-arq...
#IndigenousArt #MesoAmericanArt
“This vessel, known as the ‘coyote head,’ depicts the feathered canine from whose jaws a bearded figure emerges or appears. It was made on a lead-colored ceramic vessel with mother-of-pearl mosaics that emulate the coyote's feathers. The teeth of both figures were made from bone, while the hair and beard were made from seashells. This piece may possibly be an early representation of the ‘coyote warriors,’ later adopted by Mexica society.” “Now, while talking about seashells and snails for the pre-Hispanic era are often contemplated the origin of marine environments, it is true that several species of freshwater were also used. Here stands out the Toltec society, whose population made outstanding use of those resources and whose obtaining would seem easier than that of the seas, although its current distribution does not rule out the existence of exchange networks, as happened with those. The majority is the use of seashells necaradas, mainly of the genus Nephronaias, with which they were made tessels. Perhaps the best-known example of this phenomenon is the pottery piece exhibited in the Tolteca Room of the National Museum of Anthropology, identified as the Warrior Coyote or the Feathered Coyote and covered with iridescent shell mosaics. In addition, in archaeological projects developed in the region of Tula, in the state of Hidalgo, it is common to find complete valves, others in the process of modification, as well as finished objects elaborated with the mentioned genres.” https://arqueologiamexicana.mx/mexico-antiguo/guerrero-coyote
March 18, 2025 at 3:36 AM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A superb and quite rare vintage 1980s D'Argenta Mexico handmade silver pre Columbian Seated Zapotec design sculpture.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#handmade #silver #precolumbiandesign #mexico #mexicansilver #sculpture #statue #art #precolumbianart #mesoamericanart #zapotec
A superb vintage 1980s handmade silver pre Columbian seated Aztec figure/chief sculpture by D'Argenta of Mexico. Stunning incredibly intricate design of a pre-Columbian seated Aztec figure but in shiny silver that brings it into the 20th century! D'Argenta of Mexico is a very high end designer and producer of decorative art and sculpture for the home, and their pieces are always hand-crafted and of the highest quality. They are also very expensive and when new can sell for thousands of dollars! This design has not been in production for decades, but is in great shape showing really very little if any wear! Measures 8" tall by 6-3/8" wide by 3-1/2" deep, and is very heavy likely about 15-20 pounds prior to packing. Original labels etc at back as shown, "D'Argenta Internacional S. A. Hecho en Mexico". Unmarked as to silver content which leads me to believe that it is likely silverplate over brass, and was probably given a lacquer coating as the silver is perfect and spotless as you can see in my photo. Excellent vintage condition.
July 14, 2025 at 1:52 PM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#TurtleTuesday 🐢:
#Turtle Vessel
Colima culture, Mexico, 100BCE - 250CE
Ceramic, redware pottery, 8 3/8 x 13 3/4 x 10 1/4 in. (21.3 x 34.9 x 26 cm)
Minneapolis Institute of Art 95.101.1
collections.artsmia.org/art/9056/ves...
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
official museum photo of the object, side profile on grey background: redware pottery single spout effigy vessel in the form of a turtle, with shell decorated with white lines and hatching making a checkerboard like pattern, standing upright on four long legs, small curled tail visible on back, incised diamond shaped eyes, and mouth carved out in the shape of a cute smile
December 18, 2024 at 7:06 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
For #FrogFriday, another cool #MesoamericanBallgame piece seen at @explorenoma.bsky.social :
Stone #Frog Yoke
Veracruz Culture, Gulf Coast Mexico, c. 600-900 CE
NOMA 2001. 338
#MesoamericanArt #IndigenousArt
#HSS2025
photo of the frog form yoke in display case, front view (ceremonial version of Mesoamerican Ballgame gear) photo of the frog form yoke in display case, side view (ceremonial version of Mesoamerican Ballgame gear)
November 15, 2025 at 5:54 AM
chimalpahinome.bsky.social
The pendant from an offering from the Templo Mayor depicts a male figure in a lotus position, possibly representing Quetzalcoatl. Made of jadeite from Guatemala's Motagua River, the piece shows muscovite. Its left eye contains hematite pigment. #Archaeology #MesoamericanArt #aztec #mexica
January 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#FrogFriday 🐸:
#Frog Pendant
Mezcala, Guerrero, Mexico
100 BCE - 300 CE
Rock crystal; 1.7 x 2.6 cm (11/16 x 1 in.)
Cleveland Museum of Art 1995.98
www.clevelandart.org/art/1995.98
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
Official museum photo, top down profile on gradient grey background small pendant in the form of a frog carved from rock crystal
December 13, 2025 at 4:08 AM
allthathistory.bsky.social
This 1,500-year-old ceramic Maya figurine from Guatemala features a removable helmet, highlighting the artistry and ceremonial significance in Maya elite or warrior depictions during the Classic Period (c. 250–900 CE). #Maya #Guatemala #AncientCivilizations #ClassicPeriod #MesoamericanArt
May 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
Sharing this infographic from INAH Oaxaca with 3 #jaguar sculptures from the collection for #InternationalJaguarDay!
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
infographic from INAH Oaxaca in Spanish with 3 jaguar sculptures from the collection “JAGUAR SIMBOLISMO El jaguar fue el dios tutelar de los zapotecas prehispánicos quienes lo nombraban Pitao peche. Los gobernantes son presentados vestidos con la piel, cabeza e incluso la cola del jaguar, simbolizando liderazgo y fuerza política. Los habitos crepusculares del felino y la capacidad visual en las penumbras, lo asociaron con lo nocturno, lo negro y la muerte. Su destreza como cazador fue relacionada con la guerra, siendo el prototipo deseado de los combatientes. Ocelocuauhxicalli, Lugares INAH. IMPORTANCIA AMBIENTAL No solo es un simbolo de poder y energia en muchas culturas latinoamericanas, sino que también juega un rol crucial en el mantenimiento del equilibrio ecológico de los ecosistemas que habita. Su presencia garantiza la protección indirecta de numerosas otras especies de flora y fauna. EN PELIGRO DE EXTINCIÓN Las causas son la deforestación, la pérdida y fragmentación de su hábitat, la caza y el atropellamiento. Su conservación implica proteger los bosques tropicales, humedales y otros habitats esenciales. Además, el comercio ilegal de sus partes ha sido un factor histórico en la disminución de sus números. Aunque la demanda internacional ha disminuido, los mercados ilegales continúan siendo una amenaza considerable. Jaguar de barro. Mediateca INAH. Jaguar Portaestandarte. Mediateca INAH. INFORMACIÓN: https://mediateca.inah.gob.mx/islandora_74/islandora/object/objetoprehispanico%3A23944 https://unamglobal.unam.mx/global_revista/dia-internacional-del-jaguar/#:~:text=compartir%20en%3A,este%20emblem%C3%Altic 0%20felino%20de%20Latinoam%C3%A9rica. https://www.fundacionunam.org.mx/ecopuma/alerta-unam-sobre-mayor-peligro-de-extincion-del-jaguar/ INAH OAXACA”
November 30, 2025 at 3:28 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
For #InternationalJaguarDay :
Reclining #Jaguar, c.1400-1521
#Aztec artist, Mexico
Volcanic stone
From Brooklyn Museum’s “Climate in Crisis: Environmental Change in the Indigenous Americas” exhibition (2023)
#MesoamericanArt #IndigenousArt
photo of the jaguar stone sculpture and its label on display at museum “Aztec artist Reclining Jaguar, 1400-1521 Mexico Volcanic stone Carli H. de Silver Fund, 38.45 The Aztec Empire, centered in the Valley of Mexico, existed from 1325 until the Spanish conquest of 1521. This reclining jaguar is an excellent example of Aztec naturalistic sculpture. Every part of the animal is carefully rendered, including the underside, where the paw pads are carved in low relief. To the Aztec, the jaguar symbolized power, courage, and a warlike attitude. Some of the highest-ranking warriors were called jaguar warriors, and rulers associated themselves with Tezcatlipoca, a deity who sometimes assumed the guise of this powerful predator.”
November 30, 2025 at 4:14 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#TwoForTuesday: two double #duck jugs!
Double duck effigy vessels, Colima culture (Mexico). Undated, but similar vessels have been dated c. 100 BCE - 250 CE. Spotted on display at the American Museum of Natural History NYC.
#BirdsInArt #IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
photo of the two double duck vessels on display at museum, with label: "As in these pairs of ducks, the essential qualities of many different animals are skillfully captured. Like most of the Colima figures, they also serve as jugs for holding liquids."
December 11, 2024 at 2:15 AM
santry.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Just unveiled my latest creation: a Mesoamerican-style wolf medallion inspired by ancient Nahuatl legends! 🐺

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/jewelry/wolf-medallion-in-mesoamerican-style

#wolfmedallion #mesoamericanart #aztecjewelry #3dprinting #3dprinted #indigenousdesign
August 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
For #RattlesnakeAppreciationDay :
1. #Rattlesnake
#Aztec , 1200-1520 CE
Rhyolite porphyry
2. #Snake Head
Aztec, 1200-1520 CE
Serpentine (very fitting!)
both on display at Dumbarton Oaks
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
photo of sculpture on a pedestal display at museum - large coiled rattlesnake photo of sculpture mounted on display at museum - carved snake head and label: “Rattlesnakes are frequent subjects in Aztec stonework. This carving is one of the most realistic known, and was probably part of a coiled snake sculpture like those on display in this gallery. Throughout Mesoamerica, serpents were strongly associated with the sky and celestial bodies, as well as water and earth.”
January 29, 2025 at 2:32 AM
arthistoryanimalia.bsky.social
#MonkeyDay:
#Monkey Figure
Mezcala culture, 1st–8th century
Balsas River region, Guerrero, Mexico
Serpentine
H. 2 13/16 x W. 5/8 x D. 2 1/8 in. (7.1 x 1.6 x 5.4 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 1979.206.1208
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
official museum photo of the monkey serpentine sculpture, side profile view 1 on grey gradient background official museum photo of the monkey serpentine sculpture, side profile view 2 on grey gradient background
December 16, 2023 at 5:31 AM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Ancient Olmec jade maskette with elongated head
Early formative 1200-900 BCE

#olmec #prehispanic #precolumbian #mesoamericanart #ancientart #ancientartoftheamericas #carved #jade #maskette #BCE #art
Ancient Olmec jade maskette circa 900 BCE
February 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM