VINTAGE HUICHOL ART LARGE SUN MASK YARN PAINTED

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VINTAGE HUICHOL ART LARGE SUN MASK YARN PAINTED:
$200.00

Vintage Huichol Art Large Sun Mask

Yarn and Beeswax, Mexico

Huichol Artifact

Measurement:

12” d x 2” h

· This piece is an example of Huichol art.

· It is a cast iron large sun mask that has been adorned with multi colored threads set in beeswax.

· This is a traditional art that has been developed to maintain the cultural symbolism of the Huichol people. This is typical of the earlier tradition of yarn paintings rendered on the sun.

· The elements flow together and have a harmonious feel to them.

· This particular example is rich in color and has some of the essential elements. This is a rare piece of Huichol Art; the beaded art pieces are more prevalent.

· This piece of Huichol art is in excellent condition; the colors are vibrant and intense. Please see the photos to see the condition of this wonderful artifact.

· This piece is a quality example of traditional Huichol art and stands out not only because of the vibrant colors and the technique, but the execution is unsurpassed by much of what you see offered today.

We got this piece over twenty years ago. This particular example is in excellent condition and quality. You can tell the mastery of this particular artist by her design. We watched the little old lady create this magnificent, and other pieces while we watched.

Origin: Huichol Art

To preserve the ancient beliefs and ritual ceremonies, they began making detailed and elaborate yarn paintings. The Huichol have only an oral tradition and no written language (thus the many differing spellings of Huichol words). \"Through their artwork, the Huichol Indians encode and document their spiritual knowledge.\" (notes: Susana Eger Valadez in \'Huichol Indian Sacred Art\'). In their artwork the Huichol express their deepest religious feelings and beliefs acquired through a lifetime of participation in ceremonies and rites.

From the time they are children, they learn how to communicate with the spirit world through symbols and rituals. Thus for the Huichol, yarn painting is much more than mere aesthetic expression. The topics of these yarn paintings reflect Huichol culture and its shamanic traditions. Like icons, they are documents of ancient wisdom.\"

Beginning about thirty years ago the yarn painting evolved to its high state today from the \"Nierika\'. A small square or round tablet with a hole in the center is a Nierika (Nearika) or sacred magical offering. These tablets are covered on one or both sides with a mixture of beeswax and pine resin into which threads of yarn are pressed. Nierikas are found in all Huichol sacred places such as temples, springs and caves. The Nierika, in ritual use, is a face; of the sun, of the earth, of a deer, the wind, the peyote, and the face of the man making the offering. The Nierika facilitates the entry into the other \"spiritual world\". For the Huichol there are five directions, each of the cardinal points and the fifth is the spiritual, source of visions, power and enlightenment.

Beadwork originated as an art form long before the Spanish Conquest of the Indigenous peoples. Instead of the glass seed beads utilized today, bone, clay, coral, jade, pyrite, shell, stone turquoise and seeds were used. These were often colored with insect or vegetable dyes.

Originally the beads defined the waxen figures pressed into gourd prayer bowls to be used as offerings (as Niekira) and/or petitions to the gods and goddesses. The Huichol believe that just as one drinks water from the gourd bowl the gods drink up the petitions in the bowls and subsequently understand the prayer better.

Color defines the god or goddess petitioned: for example

· BLUE signifies Rapawiyeme (Rapa is the tree of rain);

· BLACK is Tatei Aramara, the Pacific Ocean, place of the dead, great serpent of rain;

· RED indicates Wirikuta, location of the birthplace of peyote, deer and the eagle. With the development of finer, smaller beads, more detailed work s are now seen, not only on gourds but on wooden jaguars

Peyote cactus is much revered by the Huichol, a veritable gift from the Gods. Through the use of peyote, the Huichol create the elaborate designs used in their artwork. It symbolizes the essence, the very life, sustenance, health, accomplishment, good fortune of the Huichol. Plus through peyote\'s hallucinogenic effects, enlightenment and shamanic powers can be achieved. Annual pilgrimages are taken to Wirikuta to collect the peyote. Only the \'purified ones\' can participate in the harvest or the peyote will not be found.

Pumas, mountain lions, or Mayetze are emissaries of the God of Fire, Tatewali. They are the custodians of a shaman\'s sacred vows. And if the shaman fails, Mayetze can consume his spirit.

Spirit Guides are intermediaries between spiritual and human spheres provided by the gods for shaman apprentices. The guide appears in dreams and visions and are often half-human, half animal, i.e., deer-man or deer-woman. Shamans or ambassadors to the gods are spiritual leaders called Marakame. They are considered paranormal in their powers and are an integral link between the Huichol and the deities

All birds are messengers to the gods. The feathers of eagles and turkeys are especially sought after. The doubled-headed eagle represents the Shaman\'s omnipotent power and ability to see in all directions. The goddess, Mother Eagle, Mother of the Sky and Queen of the Heavens, is embodied by the eagle or Wealika.

Deer or Mahjrah in Huichol symbolize Kayumahli, the spirit guide. Kayumahli is the guide, teacher and channel of knowledge for the Shamans. The deer hunt, capture and slaying is a much ritualized ceremony. Only the \"pure\" may participate. For the insurance of a good crop the deer blood is offered to the Deer Mother. Tah Tay Mahjrahlee. As a guardian spirit she is one of the animals of primary importance in the shamanism of the Huichol. The unity of men and women on their spiritual journeys is symbolized by the male and female deer depicted together.

Salamanders work the Rain Mother by prodding the clouds into letting go of the rain. Turtles also are emissaries of the Rain Goddess. Their function is to purify water and replenish underground springs.

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