Description:

**Originally Listed At $300**

Latin America, Mexico, Mixtec & Aztec culture, Post-Conquest period, ca. 11th to 16th century CE. An interesting collection of ritualistic cast copper and Post-Conquest era bronze bells including 5 tear drop shaped, a cluster of crotal bells, and an intriguing bar with bells at each tip, which was used as a face ornament. These bells were intended to be worn on cords or sewn to clothing probably during religious rituals and festivals. Coyolxauhqui, Huitzilopochtli, and Tlaloc were deities specifically associated with bells and venerated in various parts of Mesoamerica and Coyolxauhqui translates to "painted with bells." Interestingly, a stone effigy mask of Coyolxauhqui in the Peabody Museum, object number 28-40-20/C10108, depicts how the bells attached to the bar in this group would be positioned across the nose! Size of bar w/ bells: 2.3" L x 0.3" W (5.8 cm x 0.8 cm)

Provenance: private Golden, Colorado, USA collection, by descent, acquired in Mexico before 1970

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#176068

  • Condition: Missing clapper balls in teardrop shaped bells. Losses and perforation to cluster of crotal bells. Crotal bells are fused together with age, but one retains clapper ball and makes noise. Mineral encrustations and patina to all as shown. Bar with bells is well preserved and clappers are intact.

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March 30, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000