Mystery animal on Mexican pommel

tom hyle · 22nd January 2005, 12:16 AM

I've seen this shape executed in horn scales, and never knew what to make of it; it's usually very stylized, and reminds me of a hog-nosed snake. This one is unusually explicit, and seems to depict some sort of mammal. Thoughts? ebay#6501927522

dennee · 22nd January 2005, 12:50 AM

Hard to say, since most such animals are usually rendered crudely, schematically or fantastically. My guess would be a javelina.

Andrew · 22nd January 2005, 03:21 AM

It looks like a bat to me, Tom.

Nice piece.

Andrew · 22nd January 2005, 03:23 AM

For ease of reference.

tom hyle · 22nd January 2005, 12:49 PM

To tell you the truth it rather resembles a vicuna or guinea pig to me, but would Mexicans use such on their swords? Doesn't that seem like a low-status animal? Javalina did come to mind.....As I say, this is not a singular piece; the stylized version is semi-common (comparable to a horse, say). In Peru there's a tradition of small house-beasts as women's wealth, but in Mexico? I'm gonna stare at it some and try to convince myself it's a bat.....seems too long-faced for a vampire, but there are certainly others. It's not just the Phillipines........

fearn · 22nd January 2005, 07:35 PM

It reminds me of the stylized boar's heads one sees in old Celtic metalwork (remember that there were Spanish Celts). A pig perhaps? I don't think it's intended to be realistic.

22nd January 2005, 12:16 AM	#1
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Mystery animal on Mexican pommel I've seen this shape executed in horn scales, and never knew what to make of it; it's usually very stylized, and reminds me of a hog-nosed snake. This one is unusually explicit, and seems to depict some sort of mammal. Thoughts? ebay#6501927522

22nd January 2005, 03:23 AM	#4
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	For ease of reference. Attached Images

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22nd January 2005, 12:50 AM	#2
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	Hard to say, since most such animals are usually rendered crudely, schematically or fantastically. My guess would be a javelina.

22nd January 2005, 03:21 AM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	It looks like a bat to me, Tom. Nice piece.

22nd January 2005, 12:49 PM	#5
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	To tell you the truth it rather resembles a vicuna or guinea pig to me, but would Mexicans use such on their swords? Doesn't that seem like a low-status animal? Javalina did come to mind.....As I say, this is not a singular piece; the stylized version is semi-common (comparable to a horse, say). In Peru there's a tradition of small house-beasts as women's wealth, but in Mexico? I'm gonna stare at it some and try to convince myself it's a bat.....seems too long-faced for a vampire, but there are certainly others. It's not just the Phillipines........

22nd January 2005, 07:35 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	It reminds me of the stylized boar's heads one sees in old Celtic metalwork (remember that there were Spanish Celts). A pig perhaps? I don't think it's intended to be realistic.