Sign-In
Cart
The Wood-Carver's Art in Ancient Mexico
Hardcover
ArchaeologyIndigenous Art of the AmericasMexican History
ISBN13: 9781025468426
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 246
Weight: 1.15
Height: 0.63 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Wood-Carver's Art in Ancient Mexico is a comprehensive scholarly examination of the intricate and often overlooked tradition of wood sculpture in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Written by noted archaeologist Marshall H. Saville, this work meticulously documents the surviving examples of wooden artifacts from various indigenous cultures, with a particular focus on the Aztec and other civilizations of central Mexico. Because wood is a perishable material, few specimens have survived the centuries, making this study an invaluable resource for understanding the aesthetic and ritual life of ancient peoples.
The book catalogs a variety of objects, including ceremonial masks, spear-throwers (atlatls), drums (teponaztli), and idols. Saville provides detailed descriptions and historical context for each piece, exploring the symbolic meanings and technical mastery required to create such elaborate works. By synthesizing archaeological findings with early colonial accounts, the text offers a vivid window into the artistic heritage of Mexico prior to the Spanish conquest. This work remains a foundational text for students of Mesoamerican art history, archaeology, and indigenous material culture, preserving the legacy of the master carvers who shaped the cultural landscape of ancient Mexico.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
1 different editions
Also available
Also from
Saville, Marshall H.
Narrative of Some Things of New Spain and of the Great City of Temestitan Mexico
Saville, Marshall H.
Paperback
Narrative of Some Things of New Spain and of the Great City of Temestitan Mexico
Saville, Marshall H.
Hardcover
Also in
Indigenous Art of the Americas
The Serpent Mound, Adams County, Ohio (Facsimile Reprint)
Randall, E. O.
Randall, Emilius Oviatt
Paperback
Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present
Keene, Adrienne
Hardcover
The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans
Smith, Jaune Quick-To-See
Ahtone, Heather
Harjo, Joy
Hardcover
How to Weave a Navajo Rug and Other Lessons from Spider Woman
Pete, Lynda Teller
Ornelas, Barbara Teller
Hardcover
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol. 1: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island
Gordon, Gisele
Monkman, Kent
Paperback
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Box Set: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island
Monkman, Kent
Gordon, Gisele
Paperback
Toi Te Mana: An Indigenous History of Maori Art
Mane-Wheoki, Jonathan
Ellis, Ngarino
Brown, Deidre
Hardcover
Design Motifs of Ancient Mexico: For Tattoo Artists and Graphic Desigers: For Tatoo Artists and Graphic Desigers
Enciso, Jorge
Paperback
Artifacts to Art: Collecting Ancient America in Midcentury L.A.
Miller, Mary E.
Villela, Khristaan
Turner, Andrew D.
Paperback
Indian Designs: For Use as Quilt Patterns, Needlepoint, Applique, Machine and Hand Embroidery, Clothing, Trapunto, Fabric Painting, Crafts Projects an
Villasenor, David
Villasenor, Jean
Paperback
A Basic Guide to Northwest Coast Formline Art
Gregory, Donald Heendei
Worl, Rico Lanaat'
Tlaa, Shaadoo'
Paperback
Surviving Desires: Making and Selling Native Jewellery in the American Southwest
Lidchi, Henrietta
Paperback
Talking to the Rain: Paintings and Carvings on Stone in Chihuahuan Desert Landscapes
Schaafsma, Polly
Hardcover
They Write Their Dream on the Rock Forever: Rock Writings in the Stein River Valley of British Columbia
Arnett, Chris
York, Annie
Daly, Richard
Paperback
Child of the Fire: Mary Edmonia Lewis and the Problem of Art History's Black and Indian Subject
Buick, Kirsten
Paperback
The Declaration of Interdependence: A Pledge to Planet Earth--30th Anniversary Edition
Suzuki, David
Cullis, Tara
Hardcover
Petroglyphs (Rock Carvings) in the Susquehanna River near Safe Harbor, Pennsylvania
Cadzow, Donald
Paperback
Talking to the Rain: Paintings and Carvings on Stone in Chihuahuan Desert Landscapes
Schaafsma, Polly
Paperback
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol. 2: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island
Gordon, Gisele
Monkman, Kent
Paperback
Glory and Exile: Haida History Robes of Jut-Ke-Nay Hazel Wilson
Kardosh, Robert
Laurence, Robin
Simeon, Kūn Jaad Dana
Hardcover
My Name Is Arnaktauyok: The Life and Art of Germaine Arnaktauyok
Arnattaujuq (Arnaktauyok), Germaine
Paperback
Native American Artwork and Designs Adult Coloring Book: A Coloring Book for Adults inspired by Native American Indian Styles and Cultures: owls, drea
Zenmaster Coloring Books
Paperback
Summer People, Winter People, A Guide to Pueblos in the Santa Fe, New Mexico Area
Edelman, Sandra a.
Paperback
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol. 1: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island
Gordon, Gisèle
Monkman, Kent
Hardcover
The Spirit Within / El Espíritu Inherente: Art and Life in Latin America / Arte Y Vida En Latinoamérica
Hoobler, Ellen
Lagarde, Patricia
Paperback
Mythologizing Norval Morrisseau: Art and the Colonial Narrative in the Canadian Media
Robertson, Carmen L.
Paperback
Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now
Hopkins, Candice
Well-Off-Man, Manuela
Besaw, Mindy N.
Hardcover
The James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection: Selected Works
Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art
Paperback
Contemporary Traditions: in Native American Jewelry
Richarme, Katie McClain
Richarme, Michael
Paperback
To Take Shape and Meaning: Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art
Fields, Nancy Strickland
Simpson, Rose B.
Fadden, Stephen
Hardcover
Reading the Wampum: Essays on Hodinöhsö Ni' Visual Code and Epistemological Recovery
Kelsey, Penelope Myrtle
Paperback
Native American Coloring Book: 25+ First Nation Portraits of Beautiful Indigenous women
Joywill, Sasha
Paperback
Blossom and Nature Coloring Books for Adults: Beautiful Floral Patterns for Relaxation
Mindfulness Coloring Artist
Paperback
Road Scholar's Pueblos of the Ancients Tour, September 2022: Anita Alverio's Travel Journal
Alverio, Anita D.
Hardcover
Native American and First Nation Figures in Sculpture: North American Monuments, Memorials and Statuary of 50 Artists
Poyner, Fred F.
Paperback
Five Years in America: The Menominee Collection of Antoine Marie Gachet
Kasprycki, Sylvia S.
Hardcover