Head Figure. Azteca. 1200-1500 AD. Terracotta. 5.3 cm length. PROVENANCE: Private collection, V. Z., Holland, 1950 - 1980. CONDITION: Good condition. DESCRIPTION: The Aztec or Mexica civilization inhabited the central high plateau of what is now Mexico, founding their capital Tenochtiltlán on the shores of Lake Texcoco, the location that was best suited to a large settlement owing to the availability of water, flora, and fauna. During this civilization’s imperial period it extended throughout much of the central Mexican region from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. According to its own history, the Aztec culture, which developed during the Post Classical period of Mesoamerican history, originated in a barbarian hunter-gatherer group called the Chichimecas (which means breed of dogs) that emigrated from Aztlán and took up residence on an island in Lake Texcoco. The group expelled the Tepenecas in the year 1370 CE and founded the city of Tenochtitlán on the site where an eagle had devoured a serpent. They formed a triple alliance with other groups that lasted until the Aztecs grew independent and began their expansion. In 1519, when the empire was under the rule of Moctezuma II, the Spanish conquistadors arrived under the leadership of Hernán Cortés. Taking advantage of the enmity between the Aztecs and neighboring cultures, the Spanish defeated the Aztecs in a short time. Tolteca and Teotihuacana influences are believed to have made their mark on Aztec art and architecture. The Aztecs had a clearly defined style based on religious symbolism. Their renowned stonework includes temple sculptures, mainly representing gods, and relief works, which often depicted leaders and were commissioned to commemorate important events. Another notable example of Aztec art was the Aztec Calendar, with a 365-day year and 52-year cycle. Little remains of the civilization’s wall murals, but extant historical accounts describe the culture’s history, imperial times, and myths. These accounts are given in ideographic script, with each symbol representing an idea. On a smaller-scale, the Aztec produced wooden funeral masks encrusted with turquoise, obsidian, or mother-of-pearl, as well as skulls carved from rock crystal. The Aztecs worked gold and silver to make necklaces, bracelets, and other personal jewelry, as well as statues of their gods. They also produced featherwork for such items as ceremonial vestments, capes, and shields displaying emblems of rank and power. Notes: - The piece includes authenticity certificate. - The piece includes Spanish Export License. - The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.