Mid-20th Century Huichol Indian Shaman Ritual Embroidered Cloth

Mid-20th Century Huichol Indian Shaman Ritual Embroidered Cloth
The Huichol, one of the few Indian groups of Mesoamerica that has managed to preserve their indigenous religion, inhabit the Sierra Madre of Western Mexico. Their Cosmic Center is located in the desert of San Luis Potosi and is called Wirikuta, land of the divine ancestors—place of the sacred peyote—where a person must journey at least five times before he can become a shaman, or a mara'akame. These yarn images, or nearika (meaning 'face', 'aspect', 'design'), are considered expressions of their ceremonial art, depicting the many aspects of the shamans journy into the Other World. (Ripinsky-Naxon).
The subject is a visionary dream of flowering World Tree and with a fantastic bird of multi-colored plumage perching in the branches ready to take flight to the upper world, and two fantastic-looking creatures sitting at the base of the tree. The colors are very festive and cheerful. It is a lovely little work of art. Size: 10" x 13"

Item #amin030
$135