Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Flying-Panel Metate
Not on view
Artists transformed relatively common materials such as volcanic stone into luxury objects. Each leg of this metate (a grinding stone possibly used as a ceremonial stool) features stylized vultures with trophy heads. Below, a feline—perhaps a jaguar or puma—bares its teeth and grasps one leg of the stool while its tail connects to the metate’s surface. A creature with the snout and fangs of a crocodile and the upright stance of a human is on the feline’s back.
Los artistas transformaban materiales relativamente comunes tales como la piedra volcánica en objetos de lujo. Cada pata de este metate (mortero de piedra de forma rectangular, posiblemente utilizado como pequeño banco ceremonial) representa unos estilizados buitres con cabezas de trofeo. Debajo, un felino, quizás un jaguar o un puma, muestra sus dientes y sujeta una pata del banco ceremonial mientras que su cola se conecta a la superficie del metate. En la espalda del felino, se puede observar un ser con hocico y colmillos de cocodrilo, pero con la parte superior de un ser humano, con brazos hacia afuera y manos hacia arriba.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
