Handmade Ceramic Sculpture, 'Huitzilopochtli' (Mexico)

Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of sun and war, appears in colorful regalia in this ceramic sculpture by Angel Cerón. He is inspired by the images of the legendary deity featured in the Mexica Codex, for the original sculpture was said to have been destroyed by a Spanish soldier and was rescued by a Tlatolatl. The statue reappeared in 1530 during an investigation by Bishop Zumárraga, only to be lost again. It is speculated to be safely hidden in a cave somewhere in the Anahuac Valley. Huitzilopochtli was represented as a hummingbird as it was believed that great warriors are reborn as these birds. Huitzilopochtli is usually depicted with a feathered headdress, a black face, and a scepter shaped like a snake. Ceron sculpts the piece with yellow clay and uses natural dyes for color.

Product features:

• Dimension - 10" H x 6.75" W x 3.1" D
• Weight - 1.23 LBS
• Color - Multicolor
• Signed by the artist
• All natural dyes
• Made in Mexico

Story behind the art:

I've been working hand-in-hand with NOVICA since 2003. It was my nephew, Eduardo Escamilla, who suggested I work with NOVICA, and I found the project to be spectacular. As you may know, I'm an engineer by profession but I feel an overwhelming passion for our pre-Hispanic cultures. This is what led me to create my own representations of the deities from our past. This has been a process in which, together with my family, we've continuously perfected our designs and this is also because I love perfection.Through NOVICA, I was able to become more independent and offer work to more families who assist me. Together with my nephew Eduardo, I've increased the number of designs so that our catalog shows a wide range of sculptures.One of the most significant challenges I've had to face was my battle with cancer. Unfortunately, it's come back even more intensely, but every member of my family has always been with me. Sadly, my cancer is terminal now, and my family is always by my side.Today, my health prevents me from looking after each detail of my work, as I always used to. But the artisans who assist me in the workshop are some of the finest talents in Mexico." The Angel Ceron Artisan Association is composed of Milton González, Emilio Espejel, Brian Gonzalez, Isaac Espejel, Adrian Gonzalez, Josefina Claudio, Jorge Esparza, Saul Landon, Mauricio Hernandez, Guadalupe Lopez, Magdalena Torres, and Erick Contreras. Everyone is charged with a type of sculpture and specializes in a particular technique.