Pre-Columbian, Valley of Mexico, Aztec, Late Postclassic period, ca. 1400 to 1521 CE. A wonderful volcanic stone figure of Tlaloc, the Mesoamerican god of rain and earthly fertility, shown seated with hands on knees as his huge, stylized head faces forward. Surmounted by a plumed headdress, presumably formed from heron feathers, his evocative visage features his traditional characteristics of ringed eyes and a moustache-shaped mouth held open to expose long, sharp fangs. Sizable, spool-adorned ears flank his head, while a folded fan is shown at the verso. A splendid depiction of the ancient Mesoamerican god! Size: 5.2″ L x 5.5″ W x 11.8″ H (13.2 cm x 14 cm x 30 cm); 13″ H (33 cm) on included custom stand.
During their time of conquest, the Aztecs would incorporate the conquered town’s local deities into the imperial pantheon, the 2 primary gods being their patron deity Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, the deity of rain and water, whose worship was very old and widespread. By integrating local ideologies with that of the Mexica state, the Aztecs assimilated disparate groups into their expanding social, political, and economic structures. Such cultural absorption is attested in many artworks, foremost being the myriad sculptures of Tlaloc produced throughout Mexico, like this example. These portrayals range from the finest artistry to relatively crude carvings, the latter often found in village contexts or at ritual springs or mountain shrines associated with the deity.
Cf. Brooklyn Museum (48.22.8) and Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami (62.045.004).
Condition: Chipping with area of loss to headdress and base. Some surface gouges and discolorations. Some dark encrustations. Generally in fine, intact, and stable condition. Accompanied by custom, rotating stand.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired via Freeman’s Hindman, Chicago, Illinois, USA; ex-Charles Hopper (1949-2012), Chicago, Illinois, acquired 1980s, thence by descent.
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