Mastodawn

For #NationalCoyoteDay on #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 https://arqueologiamexicana.mx/mexico-antiguo/guerrero-coyote
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt

Hidden Gems Mar 21

The greenstone’s polished surface catches light unevenly, revealing veins of deeper jade beneath the carved ridges. Tlaloc’s maize stalk suggests a god who nourishes as much as he terrifies—what else might those horizontal glyphs encode?

#AztecArt #MesoamericanArt #ClevelandMuseumofArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/1966.361

Hidden Gems Mar 8

The greenstone’s polished surface catches light unevenly, revealing veins of deeper emerald beneath the carved ridges. Tlaloc’s maize stalk—delicate yet deliberate—hints at the god’s dual role as both nurturer and force of nature.

How might the circular glyphs above his brow encode a specific ritual or myth?

#AztecArt #MesoamericanArt #ClevelandMuseumofArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/1966.361

Art History Animalia Feb 21

#FabricFriday:
Wall Hanging - Tenango Embroidery
Otomi culture, Hildago, Mexico, 20th c.
Cotton, 77 1/2 x 72 in. (194.32 x 182.88 cm)
Mingei International Museum 2007-49-058B
https://mingei.org/collections/artful-animals
https://collections.mingei.org/objects-1/info?query%3Dmfs%20any%20%222007-49-058%22
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt
#FolkArt #AnimalsInArt

Art History Animalia Jan 27

#TextileTuesday:
Cloth (Manta), 1970s (collected 1978)
Otomí culture, Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo, Mexico
Factory-made calico/cotton, embroidered in satin stitch (Tenango embroidery)
L 98 x W 173 cm
British Museum Am1978,15.154
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1978-15-154?selectedImageId=1613847084
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt

Hidden Gems Jan 8

Tlaloc is a masterpiece of Pre-Columbian artistry, reflecting the deep connection between the Aztec rain god and agriculture. The intricate details and rich history tell a timeless story. What significance do you think water holds in art?

#ClevelandArt #Tlaloc #MesoamericanArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/1966.361

Hidden Gems Jan 7

A captivating glimpse into Mesoamerican spirituality! This seated figure, embodying Xipe Totec, sparks thoughts of renewal and sacrifice. What emotions does this ancient artistry evoke in you?

#ClevelandArt #MesoamericanArt #XipeTotec #AncientArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/1990.246

Art History Animalia Dec 13

#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
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1995.98
#IndigenousArt #MesoamericanArt

Art History Animalia Nov 15

For #FrogFriday, here is a cool #MesoamericanBallgame piece seen at New Orleans Museum of Art:
Stone #Frog Yoke
Veracruz Culture, Gulf Coast Mexico, c. 600-900 CE
NOMA 2001. 338
#MesoamericanArt #IndigenousArt
#HSS2025

Hidden Gems Oct 21, 2025

Exquisite portrayal of Tlaloc, the Aztec rain god, carved in greenstone. His features evoke both artistry and spiritual depth, reflecting ancient Mesoamerican culture. How does this piece resonate with the themes of nature and divinity in art?
#ClevelandArt #Tlaloc #MesoamericanArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/1966.361