You are currently browsing the daily archive for January 17th, 2007.
Mesopotamia 1-Standard of Ur, originally uploaded by kudwinski10108.
From Ur, southern Iraq, about 2600-2400 BC
Height: 21.59 cm Length: 49.53 cm
A mysterious object with one of the earliest representations of a Sumerian army
This object was found in one of the largest graves in the Royal Cemetery at Ur, lying in the corner of a chamber above the right shoulder of a man. Its original function is not yet understood. Leonard Woolley, the excavator at Ur, imagined that it was carried on a pole as a standard, hence its common name. Another theory suggests that it formed the soundbox of a musical instrument.
The Royal Standard of Ur on Flickr by kaptainkobold
When found, the original wooden frame for the mosaic of shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli had decayed, and the two main panels had been crushed together by the weight of the soil. The bitumen acting as glue had disintegrated and the end panels were broken. As a result, the present restoration is only a best guess as to how it originally appeared.
The Royal Standard of Ur on Flickr by kaptainkobold
Standard of Ur on Flickr by nathanaels
The main panels are known as ‘War’ and ‘Peace’. ‘War’ shows one of the earliest representations of a Sumerian army. Chariots, each pulled by four donkeys, trample enemies; infantry with cloaks carry spears; enemy soldiers are killed with axes, others are paraded naked and presented to the king who holds a spear.
Mesopotamia 6-Standard of Ur on Flickr by kudwinski10108.
The ‘Peace’ panel depicts animals, fish and other goods brought in procession to a banquet. Seated figures, wearing woollen fleeces or fringed skirts, drink to the accompaniment of a musician playing a lyre. Banquet scenes such as this are common on cylinder seals of the period, such as on the seal of the ‘Queen’ Pu-abi, also in the British Museum. The Standard of U - The British Museum
Mesopotamia 5-Standard of Ur on Flickr by kudwinski10108.
Mosaic mask of Tezcatlipoca, originally uploaded by Nolan Willis.
Aztec/Mixtec, 15th-16th century AD From Mexico
Height: 19.5 cm Width: 12.5 cm
The Skull of the Smoking Mirror
This mask is believed to represent the god Tezcatlipoca, one of the Aztec creator gods. He was also the god of rulers, warriors and sorcerers. His name can be translated as ‘Smoking Mirror’. In fact, in many depictions during the Postclassic period (A.D. 900/1000-1521) his foot is replaced by a mirror.
The base for this mask is a human skull. Alternate bands of turquoise and lignite mosaic work cover the front of the skull. The eyes are made of two discs of iron pyrites set in rings made of shell. The back of the skull has been cut away and lined with leather. The jaw is movable and hinged on the leather.
Turquoise was sent as tribute to the Aztec capital from several provinces of the empire. Some of those provinces were located in present-day Veracruz, Guerrero and Oaxaca. The turquoise was sent as raw chunks or as cut and polished mosaic tiles decorating a variety of objects, such as masks, shields, staffs, discs, knives and bracelets. We know from a tribute list issued by the emperor Motecuhzoma II that ten turquoise mosaic masks, made by skilled Mixtec artisans, were sent each year from a province in Oaxaca.
Mosaic mask of Tezcatlipoca - The British Museum
British Museum 14 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! by Chris Youd
Turquoise mosaic mask | Mixtec-Aztec, AD 1400-1521
British Museum 15 on Flickr - by Chris Youd
Aztec/Mixtec, 15th-16th century AD From Mexico
Height: 17.3 cm Width: 16.7 cm
The Feathered Serpent
This mask is believed to represent Quetzalcoatl or the Rain God Tlaloc, both associated with serpents. It is made of cedar wood and covered with turquoise mosaic work. The teeth are made of shell. Two serpents, one in green turquoise and one in blue, twist across the face and around the eyes, blending over the nose. Turquoise mosaic feathers hang on both sides of the eye sockets.
The Spanish friar Bernardino de Sahagún, writing in the sixteenth century, describes a mask like this one. It was a gift of the Aztec emperor Motecuhzoma II to the Spanish captain Hernán Cortés (1485-1547). The Aztec ruler thought that Cortés was the god Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent) returning from the East. This mask was part of the adornments associated with this god. According to Sahagún’s description it was worn with a crown of beautiful long greenish-blue iridescent feathers, probably those of the quetzal (a bird that lives in the tropical rain forest).
Though the Rain God Tlaloc was also sometimes represented with serpents twisting around his eyes, the feathers are more consistent with the image of Quetzalcoatl. The earliest image of Quetzalcoatl as the Feathered Serpent appears at Teotihuacan in Central Mexico, on the façade of the temple that now bears his name.
Mosaic mask of Quetzalcoatl - The British Museum
Turquoise mosaic of a double-headed serpent
Aztec/Mixtec, 15th-16th century AD From Mexico
Height: 20.5 cm Width: 43.3 cm
An icon of Aztec art
This ornament was probably worn on ceremonial occasions as a pectoral (an ornament worn on the chest). It is carved in wood and covered with turquoise mosaic. The eye sockets were probably inlaid with iron pyrites and shell. Red and white shell was used to add details to the nose and mouth of both serpent heads. The mosaic work covers both sides of the serpents’ heads.
The serpent played a very important role in Aztec religion. It is associated with several gods such as Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent), Xiuhcoatl (Fire Serpent), Mixcoatl (Cloud Serpent) or Coatlicue (She of the Serpent Skirt), the mother of the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli. The word for serpent in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs, is coatl.
The word coatl is also part of many place names, such as Coatepec (’the hill of the serpents’). Coatepec is the birthplace of the god Huitzilopochtli, the principal Aztec god, thus one of the most important places in Aztec mythology.
Serpents were also used as architectural elements. For example, a wall of serpents (coatepantli) was used to mark out sacred spaces within a ceremonial area. At the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, such a wall surrounded part of the Great Temple, which was the ritual focus for the entire city.
Turquoise mosaic of a double-headed serpent - The British Museum
Mosaic Art Source Archives - more mosaics from Mexico
Statue with Mosaic, originally uploaded by blamstur.
Mosaic detail on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
You’ve published a couple of photos lately by a Northern California artist named Benny Bufano. The St. Francis in this morning’s entry is his and is indeed at the Mondavi Winery. His works are all over the Bay Area and are characterized by beautifully rounded figures of animals as well as numerous versions of St. Francis and are often embellished with mosaics. He’s one of our local treasures and was quite a man — totally committed to peace.
NT, I had no idea this was by Benny Bufano although looking at it again I should have guessed. I’m so glad you were able to give us more info, thanks again! 
Mosaic Art Source Archives - who was Benny Bufano?
divination systems detail little girl with mask Lori Greene, originally uploaded by morninglori281965.
divination systems detail grandma’s head Lori Greene on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
divination systems detail back of grandma’s head Lori Greene on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
divination systems detail of dad by Lori Greene on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
divination systems detail of dad by Lori Greene on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
_DSC8127 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
_DSC8120 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
_DSC8119 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
_DSC8115 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
_DSC8112 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Public mosaic art sculptures ‘Divination Systems’ created for the midtown exchange in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mosaic Artist & Sculptor Lori Greene co-owner of Mosaic on a Stick, St. Paul Minnesota
Love your sculptures Lori, wish I could see them up close & personal but the pics are fantastic! can’t wait to check out your new blog..
Mosaic Art Source Archives - more mosaics by mosaic artist Lori Greene
red light lady, originally uploaded by shanrosen.
another mosaic torso on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Mosaic Torso Lamps at the farmer’s market, Brisbane Powerhouse made in Bali, artist unknown.
Mosaic Art Source Archives - more mosaic mannequins
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