Gong

Teponaxtle ( Teponaztli ) Tlaxcalan Warrior

Mountain range of Guerrero, Mexico
Aztec

Chicozapote wood
ca. late 19thc - early 20th c

Length: 38 inches; Width: 12 inches; Depth: 12 inches

This extraordinary Aztec drum/gong exemplifies the Aztec’s consummate artistry in wood carving. The human effigy depicted on this teponaxtle (teponaztli) is a representation of a reclining Tlaxcalan warrior with hands to the side and slight traces of paint around the eyes. The drum, showing a beautiful patina, is made out of a hollowed out log laid horizontally. It has two slit tongues cut in the top in the form of the letter H, with each tongue varying in length. The mallets are held by the carved faces and the opposite ends are covered with animal skin, used to hit the double-slit tongues. After the Spanish conquest, the missionaries prohibited traditional indigenous ritual practices and they often destroyed artifacts belonging to those rituals, so it is fortunate that this ritual “Warrior Teponaztli” survives. Today, many modern “teponaxtles” are made of bamboo, played with rubber mallets and are used for dances.

Owner:
Catalog#: LA-IDST-2

© Hartenberger World Music Collection