Stamp, Butterfly
Unknown Artist
14th–early 16th century
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
W. 1 1/2 in. × D. 1 in. (3.8 × 2.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Implements
Culture
Aztec
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Purchase, 1900
Accession Number
00.5.1169
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate ceramic stamp, titled *Stamp, Butterfly*, hails from Aztec culture in Mesoamerica, dating to the 14th– 16th century—a vibrant era just before the Spanish conquest.ved in the shape of a butterfly, this tiny implement measures a mere 1 1/2 inches wide by 1 deep (3.8 × 2.5 cm), showcasing the Aztecs' mastery of miniature ceramic work. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art a purchase in 1900, it in the Department of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas, classified as a ceramic implement. Butterflies held profound symbolism in Aztec society, often evoking themes of transformation a...