Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Aztec Empire, ca. 16th century CE. Wow! An extraordinarily rare greenstone mask of the Aztec moon goddess Coyolxauhqui with an incised name glyph of the ruler Moctezuma Xocoyotzin (c. 1466-1520), also known as Moctezuma II or Montezuma, on the verso. The glyph consists of 3 ornaments - the royal diadem, the nose plug, and the ear plug - all on and around a head of hair with a speech scroll. Alternatively, Coyolxauhqui, whose name translates to "painted with bells," is depicted traditionally with eyes closed and wearing a feathered headdress as reliefs of bells adorn her face. As Coyolxauhqui revolted against her mother, the earth goddess Coatlicue, and was subsequently beheaded by her brother Huitzilopochtli, the Sun god and patron deity of the Aztecs, she began to represent the vanquished enemy and served as a warning to those who challenged the Aztecs. The inclusion of Montezuma II's name glyph on the verso may have conveyed the message that the enemies of the Aztecs should especially fear their ruler. Size: 10.6" W x 7.8" H (26.9 cm x 19.8 cm)

Coyolxauhqui was the daughter of the earth goddess, Coatlicue, and the leader of her bothers, the Centzon Huitznahuas or "400 Huiztnaua." When Coatlicue's children learned she was pregnant, they believed she had dishonored them and Coyolxauhqui led a revolt against her. Amidst the attack, Huitzilopochtli, the Sun God and patron deity of the Mexica, was born fully armed and slayed his four hundred siblings, including Coyolxauhqui, who he beheaded. This battle signified the cosmological struggle between the moon and the sun, and also had political overtones, as Coyolxauhqui represented the vanquished enemy and served as a warning to those who challenged the Aztecs. Some authors have also written that Huitzilopochtli tossed Coyolxauhqui's head into the sky where it became the Moon, so that his mother would be comforted in seeing her daughter in the sky every night, and that her scattered brothers became the Southern Star deities.

According to the Denver Art Museum, "Moctezuma II or Moctezuma Xocoyotzin (c. 1466-1520), commonly known as Montezuma, is a contested figure in the historical record. He was the leader (tlatoani) of the Mexica Empire, centered in Tenochtitlan. Under Moctezuma, the Empire reached its greatest size. He was in power when Cortes and his band of soldiers arrived from the Yucatan peninsula in 1519. The conquistador eventually took Moctezuma hostage and he died shortly thereafter."

The Spaniards wrote of the Aztecs believing that stone quarried to be carved had magical properties and was alive, able to speak and prophecy. Aztec stone sculpture is a culmination of centuries of stone carving in Mesoamerica, and, using fragile volcanic stone and sturdy greenstone, they were able to create remarkably detailed artworks. Greenstone, like this example, was considered more valuable than gold by the Aztecs. By law, only nobility could wear jade and greenstones as they were highly symbolic: their green color was associated with the life-giving power of water and unripened crops. For this reason, they were often used in the performance of rituals.

Similar examples can be found at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, under object number 28-40-20/C10108 and at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

A copy of a technical examination from Frank Preusser & Associates done on June 16th, 2001 will accompany this piece. The certificate states that the methods of manufacture and the damage and weathering patterns are consistent with the object's assumed time and place of origin and very strongly support its archeological origin.

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#173375

Some small nicks and abrasions in areas, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive preservation of incised details. Nice sea encrustations.