Carving Item Number: Ni71 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carving has blue and green cone-like top with six horizontal ridges and ten vertical cuts in which red yarn has been applied with beeswax and ends join to form tassel at top of cone. Pink yarn wrapped around base of cone, with yarn knotted on either side of cone and having the ends hanging free. Red yarn wrapped beneath pink, knotted on either side of cone with ends hanging free. Below cone are five circular layers with small circular holes burnt around edges and between each layer. Four circular decorations on each layer consist of beads pressed into beeswax. Two pink and two yellow pompoms between third and fourth layers. Rounded base has five beaded decorations and a zigzag line of burnt circles.

Cultural Context

contemporary; tourist art; ritual

Iconographic Meaning

May represent maize?

Narrative

The Wixáritari are known to the larger world as the Huichol, however that is not the name they use to refer to themselves.