Lot 35
Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Aztec Empire, ca. 15th to early 16th century CE. A powerful basalt head depicting a youthful male figure, possibly representing Xiuhtecuhtli, the Aztec god of fire, time, and renewal. The face, carved with angular precision and softened by centuries of wear, bears the calm, introspective expression characteristic of Aztec divine imagery - slightly parted lips, broad cheeks, and deeply recessed almond-shaped eyes. The figure wears a tall, cylindrical headdress incised with vertical fluting, a motif often associated with fire and divine authority, while broad earflares frame the head. Most striking are the faint traces of red pigment still visible across the surface, remnants of the original polychromy that once enlivened the stone and symbolized both vitality and sacred energy. Size: 4" L x 6.2" W x 6.5" H (10.2 cm x 15.7 cm x 16.5 cm); 12.7" H (32.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Red, a color linked to blood, life, and the east - the direction of the rising sun - would have been particularly apt for Xiuhtecuhtli, lord of heat and renewal. Carved from dense volcanic basalt, the stone's rugged texture and mineral inclusions evoke the elemental force of fire and earth that defined Aztec cosmology. Sculptures such as this were likely embedded within temple walls or placed in shrines as embodiments of divine presence, ensuring the cyclical regeneration of life through flame and time. Mounted on a modern stand for display, this evocative head testifies to the Aztec sculptor's mastery in merging spiritual power with enduring material, a union of ritual, artistry, and sacred permanence.
PROVENANCE: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired from Garth's Auction, Stratford, Ohio, USA, in 1991
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Item #
197351
- Condition: Damaged. Fragment as shown. Some chips, abrasions, and weathering to surface, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with liberal remaining detail and trace remains of cinnabar.
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