Aztec. <em>Life Death Figure</em>, 1200–1521. Volcanic Stone, 10 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. (26.7 x 14 x 15.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by The Henfield Foundation, 64.50. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 64.50_view2_SL4.jpg)

Aztec. Life Death Figure, 1200–1521. Volcanic Stone, 10 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. (26.7 x 14 x 15.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by The Henfield Foundation, 64.50. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 64.50_view2_SL4.jpg)

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Hi! About this "life-death figure" (Mexico, Aztec) 1200-1521.... Three rows of teeth! Any insight?

Wow, great observation! I believe three rows may not have a specific meaning -- if you look closely on the human side of the face there is only one. My guess with this work is that the artist was figuring around how to depict the teeth with and without lips.

It's such a fascinating depiction with the human and skeleton faces divided right down the middle.

Ha! Probably right. Volcanic stone is tough to carve. #scultptorproblems

Absolutely! Many of our Aztec sculptural works are made from volcanic stone. They are certainly good at working with such a hard material!

Tell me about this Mexica "Life Death Figure".

This is an example of small-scale religious sculpture from the Aztec (Mexica) culture of central Mexico. The Aztecs controlled the valley of Mexico for a century before the Spanish conquered them and began colonizing the region.

The two horns on the figure's headdress may be a reference to the Templo Mayor that was crowned by two temples. The Templo Mayor was the ceremonial center of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, modern-day Mexico City.

Life Death Figure

Arts of the Americas

The face on this small yet powerful sculpture exemplifies the dualism of ancient Mesoamerican religion with respect to life and death by combining a skull with lifelike features. Previous interpretations, based on the two-horned headdress and jeweled headband, identified the figure as Xiuhtecuhtli (Lord of Fire) or Tonacatecuhtli (Lord of Sustenance). More recent scholarship suggests that the two horns or tufts may refer to the two temples crowning the Templo Mayor, the Mexica (Aztec) ceremonial center that dominated the capital of Tenochtitlán, in present-day Mexico City. The temples were dedicated to Huitzilopochtli (Lord of Warfare) and to Tlaloc (Lord of Rain and Fertility).

La cara de esta pequeña pero poderosa escultura ejemplifica el dualismo de la antigua religión Mesoamericana con respecto a la vida y la muerte, al combinar una calavera con una cara de rasgos vitales. Interpretaciones previas, basadas en el tocado de dos cuernos y cintillo enjoyado, identificaban la figura como Xiuhtecuhtli (Dios del Fuego) o Tonacatecuhtli (Dios del Sustento). Recientemente académicos han sugerido que los dos cuernos pueden referirse a los dos templos que coronaban el Templo Mayor, el centro ceremonial Mexica (Azteca) que dominaba la capital de Tenochtitlán, en la actual Ciudad de México. Los templos estaban dedicados a Huitzilopochtli (Dios de la Guerra) y a Tlaloc (Dios de la Lluvia y Fertilidad).

CULTURE Aztec

MEDIUM Volcanic Stone

Place Made: Mexico

DATES 1200–1521

PERIOD Post-Classic

DIMENSIONS 10 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. (26.7 x 14 x 15.6 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 64.50

CREDIT LINE Purchased with funds given by The Henfield Foundation

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Aztec stone figure. The circles on the headdress represent fire and the two horn-like projection on top of the head help identify the figure as Xiuhtecuhtli, the Lord of Fire. This deity was associated with fire and life as well as with the household hearth where food was prepared and household rituals were performed.The left side of the head represents life; the right side symbolizes death. This is an unusual representation of this deity. The body is a simple abstract form. Condition: Right arm has repaired crack. Conservation observed damage to nose in 1984; tip had been broken off and lost; area was tinted with watercolors to make it less apparent. Condition generally good. Overall surface wear. Recessed brass hole for mount.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Aztec. Life Death Figure, 1200–1521. Volcanic Stone, 10 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 6 1/8 in. (26.7 x 14 x 15.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by The Henfield Foundation, 64.50. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 64.50_view2_SL4.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 64.50_view2_SL4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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