Description
This handmade bark painting depicts a "full figure" glyph carved on the Tablet of the Palace. The figure on the left is the god of the number eleven, while the modling on the right represents the Mayan god Ahau. The combination of the two therefore reads 11 Ahau. Each day was a separate deity, since each date consisted of a number and a name. Originally from the Palenque Museum in Chiapas.
Papel Amate, or Bark Paper, is a form of traditional Mexican paper with pre-Hispanic origins. Traditional bark paper was considered a specialty of the village shaman and was used for special rituals. The Nahua and Otomi tribes eventually began using bark paper as a canvas for traditional paintings. Typically the Otomi of Puebla painstakingly craft the paper out of fig tree or mulberry tree bark and then sell it to the Nahua of Guerrero for painting. These bark paintings, papel amate, are an art form unique to the indigenous tribes of Mexico, and are sure to add more depth and culture to your home decor.
