We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
THE CASE FOR THE AZTEC GOLDSMITH.
- Authors
King, Timothy B.
- Abstract
There is compelling evidence to believe that some gold ornaments in the South Mexican International Style found outside the Basin of Mexico, or without provenience, were made by goldsmiths in the urban centers of the Aztec empire, rather than by the Mixtec artisans to whom they are commonly attributed. The weight of gold dust and bullion recorded as tribute to the Aztec rulers in the Codex Mendoza and other sources was sufficient to produce 22,000–27,000 small and medium-sized ornaments annually, implying a large number of goldworkers in these urban centers. Ethnohistorical documents indicate that many gold ornaments were given to provincial leaders by Aztec rulers who used gifts of luxury items as an important part of their diplomatic strategies, and political patronage system; many more were exported by means of long-distance trade.
- Subjects
AZTEC art; DECORATION &; ornament; CODEX Mendoza (Book); INNER cities; PATRONAGE
- Publication
Ancient Mesoamerica, 2015, Vol 26, Issue 2, p313
- ISSN
0956-5361
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S095653611500022X