Seal

Date1300-1500

MediumTerracotta

ClassificationsTools and manufacturing

Terms

Object numberC01021

DescriptionTerracotta seal "sello" or stamp from Mexico.

The front depicts a black curvilinear zoomorphic figure of a spider monkey, composed of geometric lines and swirls; the figure faces left, both arms raised, and knees bent. The reverse is a raised lump caked with brown dirt. It is made of clay, and is flat with a handle on the back.

There are numerous example of Precolumbian seals all over the world. In the case of this specific specimen the exact same stamp is exposed at the British Museum in the Aztec section and at the Metropolitan Museum of New York. The use of these stamps is not known. They could have been used to apply a design on textile, ceramic and skin for temporary tattooing.

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