Deity Censer (Xantil)

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During the last few centuries before the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1521, the people in the Tehuacan Valley in the southeast corner of the state of Puebla near Oaxaca produced unusual censer covers. Censers were braziers for holding incense (most commonly a tree resin widely called copal) that when burnt yielded abundant smoke. Tehuacán censer covers were known as xantiles, and are in the form of seated human figures with tubelike arms and legs, and a modeled head attached to the hollow, cylindrical body. The rising smoke escaped through the open, fanged mouth of this figure, and was a means of communicating with the gods. This figure is amply decorated with finely painted designs and wears prominent ear ornaments. The headcrest and rosettes with tassels on either side of the head suggest that Macuilxochitl-Xochipilli, god of music, dance, feasting, and sexuality, is depicted.

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