1958.41 Censer (xantil) representing Macuilxochitl (Mexico, Oaxaca, Mixtec)

The "Xantiles" are bottomless cylindrical vessels representing specific supernaturals in the pantheon of the Mixteca-Puebla culture. They were placed over containers of burning copal incense. This figure retains much of its original paint. The body is yellow and ornaments are blue, with additional painted red and black decorative details such as the rectangular mouth mask.

Xantiles sat over containers of copal incense, which Mesoamerican peoples burned as food for supernatural beings. The fragrant smoke drifted to the spirit realm through holes in the painted clay figure. "Xantile" is the modern Zapotec word for a cylindrical, bottomless effigy incensario representing, in costumed human form, one of the supernaturals in the Mixteca-Puebla pantheon. The crested bird-head helmet framing the face of this figure identifies him as Xochipilli-Macuilxochitl, because his "nahualli" or spirit guise was the coxcoxtli, a species of pheasant. Xochipilli, the "flower prince," is the youthful aspect of the solar deity, patron of poetry and sensuality. Macuilxochitl, "Five Flower," is the Aztec deity of pleasure, dance, the ball game, and patolli (similar to pachisi of southern Asia), a game of chance with religious and astronomical significance. He is identified with, and may be the calendrical name of, Xochipilli.

Kathy Windrow, DMA unpublished material, 1992.

Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619 

Nahua (Native Central Mexican styles): AAT: 300017793 

Aztec: AAT: 300017033

Mexica (Aztec): AAT: 300017033

Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560

Oaxaca (state): TGN: 7005591

Camino del Valle (Oaxaca): DMA

ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507

clay: AAT: 300010439

paint (coating): AAT: 300015029

glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914

incising: AAT: 300053847

coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903

modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130

slab method (pottery technique): AAT: 300053905

Postclassic (Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016987

xantiles (vessels): DMA

vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015

effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108

censers (ceremonial containers): AAT: 300198814

braziers (cooking / heating equipment): AAT: 300198452

incensarios (ceremonial containers): AAT: 300198814

incense burners (containers): AAT: 300198817

incense: AAT: 300265591

copal (resin): AAT: 300012910

hollow (form attribute): AAT: 300163023

burning (physiochemical process): AAT: 300228062

fires (events): AAT: 300068986

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

smoke (material): AAT: 300073252

offering (tribute / payment / economic concepts /social science concepts): DMA

tributes (economic concepts / social science concepts): AAT: 300404872

shrines: AAT: 300007558

fertility: AAT: 300379149

sacrifices: AAT: 300263243

blue (color): AAT: 300129361

red (color): AAT: 300126225

yellow (color): AAT: 300127794

black (color): AAT: 300130920 

white (color): AAT: 300129784

supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947

deities: AAT: 300343850

god (deity): AAT: 300343851

Xochipilli-Macuilxochitl (Mesoamerican / Aztec deity / "flower prince" / "Five Flower"): DMA

Xochipilli (Mesoamerican / Aztec deity / "flower prince"): DMA

Macuilxochitl (Mesoamerican / Aztec deity / "Five Flower"): DMA

youth (life stages): AAT: 300305226

suns (stars): AAT: 300379806

poetry: AAT: 300055931

sensuality: AAT: 300055186

dance (discipline): AAT: 300054144

ball games (games / activities): AAT: 300239662

religious symbolism: AAT: 300055874

astronomy (sciences): AAT: 300054534

precious (concept / condition): DMA

birds (animals): AAT: 300266506

pheasants (family): AAT: 300310512

figures (representations): AAT: 300189808

sitting (seated): AAT: 300263970

warriors: AAT: 300261945

birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751

eagle: AAT: 300250049

costume: AAT: 300209261

masks (costume): AAT: 300138758

headwear: AAT: 300209285

headdresses: AAT: 300046023

necklaces: AAT: 300046001

beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006

earspools: AAT: 300209300

nose ornaments (jewelry): AAT: 300211628

Until 1958: Everett Rassiga, Inc. (Everett Rassiga), New York [1], [2]

From 1958: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Everett Rassiga [1], [2], [3]

[1] The main source for this provenance was existing information in TMS (in Dallas Museum of Art Digital Collections Records Object Files). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.  

[2] The main source for this provenance is letter from Jerry Bywaters, Director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, to Everett Rassiga, Black Tulip Galleries (dated August 8, 1958, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

Apply to objects where number equals 1958.41