figure
- Museum number
- Am1991,Q.3
- Description
-
Stucco figure.
- Curator's comments
- Found unnumbered in the Ethnography Department collections. From Q-Register "Associated with Thomas Gann" - means of acquisition as yet unclear.
see:
Solari, A. 2019. Idolizing Mary: Maya-Catholic Icons in Yucatan, Mexico. Pennsylvannia State University Press
Traces of "Maya Blue": nanostructured material produced by heating palygorskite (a naturally occurring fibrous phyllosilicate mineral (Mg,Al)4Si8(O,OH,H2O)24•nH2O with a needle-like structure together with a pre-Columbian species of indigo (either I.suffructicosa or I.guatalamensis, ch’oh in Yucatec Mayan). The archaeological fascination with the pigment owes in part to its chromatic properties, which deteriorate little over time and are resistant to diluted mineral acids, alkalis, solvents, oxidants, reducing agents, moderate heat and biocorrosion.
- Location
- Not on display
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am1991,Q.3