Huichol Beadwork Mexican Eagle Votive Painting, "Huichol Eagle"

Higinio Hernandez depicts the national emblem from the Mexican flag, adding colorful Huichol symbols. The Aztecs, or Mexica as they called themselves, left their island town to seek a new place to establish their home. Legend tells how, when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a serpent in is beak, this would be the place they were seeking, and this image also appears in the country's national seal.

Incandescent peyote buds glow on the bird's chest and wings, and three deer accompany it. Brother of the Huichol people, Kawuyomaire is a blue deer who travels the heavens as a guide and guardian. He can be heard by the shaman and his presence is perceptible through the peyote. To the left, Taa Ta Ta is the sun, father of the Huichol people. To the right, warra, the corn plant, lifts green stalks skyward in the Mexican sunshine, heavy with tasseled ears of maize.

To create this colorful nierika, or votive "painting," the artisan coats a board with beeswax and patiently applies the tiny beads, using a needle to place each one with precision.

Do not expose this piece to direct heat or light, as it could soften the wax adhesive and thus loosen the beads.