ceramic cats

Artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association depict a Jaguar Warrior, recreating an image from Texcoco's late classic period. The man's face seems to emerge from the toothy jaws of the spotted cat. The Mexican artisans reveals their knowledge of the ancient Aztec civilization with this ceramic mask.

The most important deity in the Aztec pantheon, Tezcatlipoca, or "Smoking Mirror," is also one of the oldest, first appearing during the pre-Mexica Teotihuacan era. He is the god of fertility, of the wind, of life, of maize and of agriculture, and is said to have taught humans how to measure time and create the calendar. He is considered the antagonist of Quetzalcoatl, yet in later accounts, Quetzalcoatl is described as the black Tezcatlipoca.

Working in polychrome ceramic, Angel Cerón depicts Tezcatlipoca as his nahual, or animal counterpart — a jaguar named Tepeyollotli.

A skull represents the spirit of a warrior sacrificed to Aztec deities. It emerges from the helmet of the renowned jaguar warriors, an elite infantry comprised of pre-Hispanic noblemen. Working in ceramic, artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association design and create an original mask that is faithful to Mexico's ancient historical record.

A youthful face represents one of the renowned Aztec Jaguar warriors, an elite infantry comprised of pre-Hispanic noblemen. Their helmets took the shape of the fierce spotted jaguar, or oceotl. Working in ceramic, artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association create an original mask that is faithful to Mexico's ancient historical record.

The sculpted bust of a jaguar warrior unearthed in Texcoco inspires artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association in the creation of this sculpture. Ancient Aztecs believed the jaguar to be associated with the god of night, and to become a jaguar one had to capture at least four enemies. Jaguar warriors, or ocelopilli, were used to capture enemies to be sacrificed to the gods. They would wear jaguar fur and claws for they believed the items would make them stronger and braver. They fought with wooden swords studded with obsidian.