God's Eye Figure Item Number: Ni16 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Central stick, glued to circular base, has two cross sticks attached with yarn. Two metal hoops on either side of central stick are wrapped in blue and pink yarn and have white feathers at each end. Alternating blue and pink yarn wrapped around base. Central stick wrapped in yellow, at first cross blue, pink and purple yarn form a diamond, cross stick ends wrapped in blue before tassels. At second cross stick blue, light blue, yellow and brown yarn form a diamond, ends wrapped in blue before tassels. End of central stick wrapped in blue before tassel.
History Of Use
God's eyes symbolically ask particular deities to 'keep an eye' on an individual; prominent during the harvest festival in which children are taken on pretend peyote pilgrimages.
Cultural Context
contemporary; tourist art; ritual
Iconographic Meaning
Number of god's eyes represents the number of times a child has been on pretend peyote pilgrimages; 5 pilgrimages being the ideal.
Narrative
The Wixáritari are known to the larger world as the Huichol, however that is not the name they use to refer to themselves.
Item History
- Made in Jalisco, Mexico and Nayarit, Mexico before 1980
- Collected during 1980
- Owned by Xieca Shop
- Owned by Ralph Maud before February 1, 1982
- Received from Ralph Maud (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) on February 1, 1982
What
Who
- Culture
- Huichol
- Previous Owner
- Xieca Shop and Ralph Maud
- Received from
- Ralph Maud (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Jalisco, Mexico and Nayarit, Mexico
When
- Creation Date
- before 1980
- Collection Date
- during 1980
- Ownership Date
- before February 1, 1982
- Acquisition Date
- on February 1, 1982
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0774/0001 a-c