Mystery animal on Mexican pommel

[tom hyle]

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]

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

[Andrew]

It looks like a bat to me, Tom.

Nice piece. :)

[Andrew]

For ease of reference.

[tom hyle]

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]

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.

[Andrew]

Sure looks like a bat to me. :)


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wild/mammals/bats/images/tadbra.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wild/mammals/bats/species/mex_freetail.htm&h=285&w=200&sz=12&tbnid=iX69-_pW-RAJ:&tbnh=109&tbnw=77&start=14&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmexican%2Bbat%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie% 3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wild/vertebrate/mammals/bats/images/tadbra.jpg

[RSWORD]

Chupacabra.

[tom hyle]

Well, Andrew, you certainly do know how to make a point :) Thanks for the pics.

[Andrew]

Chupacabra.


rotfl :D

[Andrew]

Well, Andrew, you certainly do know how to make a point :) Thanks for the pics.


My pleasure, Tom. :)